*   s  >hi-  .^      .     i 


tJS  A. 


jVV. 


'yi^c'"'  X/v*.' 


■■'■ibr 


'r]pJR'' 


RARE  BOOKS 

-1792. 


r^ 


ri  -^  _ 

I  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,! 
i  Princeton,  N.  J.  f 


I         Case,    ^'^•siQ"...S.£iiri| 
/S7/Y^<^/;    Section     ^O0(^     % 


f) 


«oo/.,  No,.....-  e.T'" 


r     . 


■ 


HISTORY 


OF      THE 

WORK  OF  REDEMPTION. 

CONTAINING      THE 

OUTLINES 

O  F      A 

BODY    OF    DIVINITY, 

IN   A    METHOD   E  N  T  I  Ijl  E  L  Y    NEW, 
BY     THE     LATE     REVEREND 

Mr.    JONATHAN    EDWARDS, 

{'RESIDENT  OF  THE  COLLEGE  OF  NEWJERSET. 

Clie  C6iro  ametxcan  CDition. 


PRINTED  AT  WORCESTER,  MASSACHUSETTS, 

By   IsAiAH    THOMAS  £^  LEONARD   WORCESTER^ 

For     ISAIAH      THOMAS. 

Sold  at  his  Bookftore  in  Worcester,  and  by  him  and  Company  in  Bostok. 


MOCCXCU» 


111 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


— »-*-ta»*'>0^>^ 


1  HE  late,  learned  and  ingenious  Mr,  Edtuards  left  i7i 
MS,fcveral  hundred  fermons  on  doHrinal  and  praciicalJuhjeEls,  explica- 
tions of  above  500  texts  ojfcripture,  and  ejfays  on  the  truth  and  excel' 
lency  of  the  Chrijiian  religion^  the  harmony  of  the  Old  and  New^TeJla- 
ment,  the  divinity  of  Chrifl,  the  necejfity  and  reafonablenefs  of  atonement 
and  of  the  imputation  of  merit,  the  eternity  oj  hdl  torments,  the  fore- 
knowledge  of  God,  predejlination,  univerjal  and  particular  redemption, 
efficacious  grace,  jufiification,  perfeverance,  &c.     Though  he  had  no  de- 
fign  to  publiJJi  thefe  in  the  form  in  which  he  left  them,  yet,  in  the  opinion 
of  good  judges  in  America  who  have  perufed  them,  they  contain  a  variety 
of  new  and  fir  iking  fenthnents,  on  viany  important  and  dijicult  fubjeCls, 
which  might  communicate  to  the  Chriflian  world  much  ufeful  inJiruFtion* 
When  writers  excel  only  infiyle  and  compofition,  they  can  derive  little 
honour,  and  the  publick  can  reap  fmall  improvement,  from  the  printing 
their  loofe  unfnifhed  papers  ;  but  important  original  thoughts,   though 
not  accurately  methodized,  nor  adorned  with  the  beauties   of  eloquence, 
well  merit  being  preferved  from  oblivion.     If  fo  much  of  the  .Author's 
penetration  and  judgment  appear  in  the  following  fheeti,   written  about 
twenty  years  before  his  death,  much  more  may  be  expcUed  from  compofi- 
tions  in  a  period,  when  years,  fludy,  and  experience,  had  greatly  increaf 
ed  hisjlock  of  knowledge.     Whether  the  publifher  fliall  favour  the  world 
zoith  any  more  of  tJiefe  valuable  remains,  will  probably  in  a  good  meafure 
depend  on  the  encouragement  this  work  meets  with. 


PREFACE. 


IV 


PREFACE. 


It  has  long  been  dejirei  by  the  friends  of 

Mr,  Edwards,  that  a  number  of  his  manufcripts  Jhould 

he   fniblijhed  ;  but  the  difadvantage  under   which  all 

pojlhumous  publications   mujl  neccjfarily   appear,   and 

the  diJUculty  of  getting  any  confidcrable  work  printed 

in  this  infant  country  hitherto,  have  proved  fujfficient 

obflacles  to  the  execution  offuch  a  propofaL     The  firfi 

of  thefe  obflacles  made  me  doubt,  for  a  confiderable  time 

after  thefe  manufcripts  came  into  my  hands,  whether  I 

could,   confiflently  with   that   regard  which   1  owe   to 

the   honour  of  fo  worthy  a  parent,  fuffer  any  of  them 

to  appear  in  the  world.     However,  being  diffident  of 

my  own  fentiments,  and  doubtful  whether  I  were  not 

over  jealous  in  this  matter,  I  determined  to  fubmit   to 

the  opinion  of  gentlemen,  who  are  friends  both  to  the 

character  of  Mr*  Edwards  and  to  the  caufe  of  truth. 

The  confequence  was,  that  they  gave  their  advice  for 

publifhing  them. 

The  other  obflacle  was  removed  by  a  gentleman  in 
the  church  of  Scotland,  who  was  formerly  a  correfpond- 
ent  of  Mr,  Edwards.  He  engaged  a  bookfeller  to  un^ 
dertake  the  work,  and  alfo  fignified  his  defire  that  thefe 

following 


PREFACE.  V 

following  difcourfes  in  particular  might  be  made  puh^ 
lick, 

Mr.  Edwards  had  planned  a  body  of  divinity^  in  a 
new  method,  and  in  the  form  of  a  hijlory  ;  in  which 
he  wasfrjl  to  Jhow,  how  the  moft  remarkable  events^ 
in  all  ages  from  the  fall  to  the  prefent  times^  recorded 
in  f acred  and  profane  hijlory ^  were  adapted  to  promote 
the  work  of  redemption  ;  and  then  to  trace^  by  the  light 
of  fcripture  prophecy ,  hoxo  the  fame  workjhould  be  yet 
further  carried  on  even  to  the  end  of  the  world.  His 
heart  was  fo  much  fet  on  executing  this  plan,  that  he 
was  confiderably  averfe  to  accept  the  prefidentfhip  of 
Princetown  college,  kf  the  duties  of  that  ojice  fhould 
put  it  out  of  his  power. 

The  outlines  of  that  work  are  now  offered  to  the  puh^ 
lick,  as  contained  in  a  feries  of  fermons,  preached  at 
Northampton  in  1739,*  without  any  view  to  publication. 
On  that  account,  the  reader  cannot  reafonably  expert  all 
that  from  them,  which  he  might  jujlly  have  expelled, 
had  they  been  written  with  fuch  a  view,  and  prepared 
hy  the  Author's  own  hand  for  the  prefs. 

As  to  elegance  of  compofition,  which  is  now  ejleemed 
fo  ejfential  to  all  publications,  it  is  well  known^  that  the 
Author  did  not  make  that  his  chief  fiudy.  However^ 
his  other  writings,  though  defitute  of  the  ornaments  of 
fine  language,  have  itfeems  thatfolid  merit,  which  has 
procured  both  to  themfelves  and  to  him  a  confiderable 

reputation 

*  This  is  neceffary  to  be  remembered  by  the  reader,  in  order 
to  underftand  feme  chronological  obfervations  in  the  following 
workt 


vi  PREFACE. 

reputation  in  the  worlds  and  with  many  an  high  ef» 
teem.  It  is  hoped  that  the  reader  willjind  in  thefe  di[» 
courfes  many  traces  of  plain  good  fenfey  found  reafoning^ 
and  thorough  knowledge  of  the  facred  oracles^  and  real 
unfeigned  piety :  And  that,  as  the  plan  is  new,  and 
onany  of  the  fentiments  uncommoji,  they  may  afford  ew- 
ierlainment  and  improvement  to  the  ingenious^  the  in-^ 
quifitive,  and  the  pious  reader  ;  may  confirm  their 
faith  in  God's  government  of  the  world,  in  our  holy 
Chriflian  religion  in  general,  and  in  many  of  its  pecu- 
liar  doBrines ;  may  afftfl  in  fludying  with  greater 
pleafure  and  advantage  the  hiflorical  and  prophetical 
hook's  of-  f crip ture  \  and  may  excite  to  a  converfation 
becoming  the  gofpeL 

That  this  volume  may  produce  thefe  happy  effects  in 
all  who  fhall  perufe  it,  is  the  hearty  defire  and  prayer  of 

The  reader* s  mofi  humhle  fervant, 

JONATHAN  EDWARDS. 

Nezvhaven,Feh»  25,  1773. 


ADVERTISEMENT 


-^^^ 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


They  who  have  a  relilh  for  the  fludy- 
of  the  fcripturcs,  and  have  accefs  to  perufe  the  follow- 
ing Iheets,  will,  I  am  perfuaded,  deem  themfelves 
much  indebted  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Edwards  of  New- 
haven  for  confenting  to  publiih  them.  Though  the 
acute  philofophcr  and  deep  divine  appearsjn  them,  yet 
they  are  in  the  general  better  calculated  for  the  in- 
(trudlion  and  improvement  of  ordinary  Chriftians,  than 
thofe  of  Prefident  Edwards's  writings,  where  the  ab- 
ftrufe  nature  of  the  fubjedV,  or  the  fubtle  objedtions  of 
oppofers  of  the  truth,  led  him  to  more  abftraft  and 
metaphyfical  reafonings.  The  manufcript  being  en- 
trufted  to  my  care,  1  have  not  prefumed'to  make  any 
change  in  the  fentiments  or  compofition.  I  have, 
however,  taken  the  liberty  to  reduce  it  from  the  form 
of  fermons,  which  it  originally  bore,  to  that  of  a  con- 
tinued treatifci  and  I  have  fo  altered  and  diver fified 
the  marks  of  the  feveral  divifions  and  fubdivifions,  that 
each  clafs  of  heads  might  be  eafily  diftinguilhed. 

JOHN  ERSKINE. 

Edmiurghy  April  29, 1774. 

CONTENTS, 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 


General  introduBion, 

PERIOD        I. 


Page 

1 


From  the  fall  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrijl,  -  ~  2^ 

PART        I. 
'*  From  the  fall  to  the  food,  ....  *  26 

P    A     R     T        II. 
From  the  food  £0  the  calling  of  Abraham,  -  •  43 

PART  III. 

From  the  calling  of  Abraham  to  Mofes,  -  5a 

PART        IV. 

From  Mofes  to  David,  -  -  -  66 

PART        V. 

From  David  to  the  Babylonifh  captivity,  -  90 

P     A     R     T         VI. 

From  tht  Babylonifh.  captivity  to  the  coming  ofChfift,  -  121 

IMPROVEMENT. 

Infpiration,  excellency ,  and  ufefulntfs  cf  the  books  of  the  Old  Tefld- 
raent,  &c,  154 

P    E    R    I    0    D        U. 

The  time  of  Chrijl's  humiliation,  m  -  -  166 

PART        I. 
Of  Chrif's  becoming  incarnate  to  capacitate  himfelffor  thepurchafe 
of  redemption,  -  -  •  167 

PART        II. 

Of  the  purchafe  itfdf.  -  -  -  i75 

1  Sect. 


CONTENTS.  IK 

S    E     C    T.        I. 

JVhat  is  intended  by  ChriJVs  punliafing  redemption,  -  175 

Sect.     II. 
General  obfervations  concerning  thofe  tilings  by  zvhich  this  purchafe 
was  made,  -  -  -  -  17^ 

Sect.     III. 

The  obedience  and  fufferings  by  zokich  Chrijt  purchafed  redemption 
particularly  confidered,  -  -  178 

IMPROVEMENT.,    ' 

Sect,     I. 

Reproof  of  unbelief ,  felfrighteoufnefs,  and  cardefs  negleB  of  falv ac- 
tion, '  -  -  199 

Sect.     II. 

Encouragement  to  burdened  fouls  to  truji  in  Chrijl  for  Jalvation^       208 

PERIOD         III. 

From  ChriJVs  refurreStion  to  the  end  of  the  world,  210 

INTRODUCTION. 

General  obfervations  concerning  this  period,  -  211 

PARTI, 

Of  thofe  things  whereby  Chrifi  was  put  into  an  immediate  capacity 
for  accomplifhing  the  ends  of  his  purchafe,  -  221 

PART         11. 
How  Chrifi  accomplifned  thisfuccefs,  -  225 

Sect,     I, 

Hozo  thisfuccefs  is  accomplifhed  by  God's  grace  here,  ibld» 

5  I,  The  means  of  this  fuccffs  efiablif  led  after  Chriji's  refurreElion,  ibid* 
^11.  Thefuccefs  itfelf,  -  -      .  231 

First,  In  the  fuffering  Jiate  of  the  church,  from  the  refurreclion 
of  Chrifi  to  the  fall  of  Antichrifi,  -  232 

I.  Erom  Chrijl*s  refurreBion  until  the  defiruEiion  of  Jerufalem,       234 

II.  Erom  the  defiruBion  of  Jerufalem  to  the  deJlruElion  of  the 
heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Confiantine  the  Great,  243 

Inference,  Truth  of   Chrijiianity  argued  from  the  fuccefs  of 
the  gofpel  in  both  thefe  periods,  -  253 

A  III,  Succefs 


X 


CONTENTS. 


III.  Succefs  cf  redemption  from  the   time  of  C en f  anting,  the  Great 

7intil  the  fall  of  Antic hrijl,  -  -  256 

j/?,  From  Conftantine  until  the  rife  of  Antichif,  257 

2t//y,  From  the  rift  of  Antichrijl  until  the  Reformatidn,  260 

adly,  From  the  Reformation  until  the  prefent  tinief  269 

1.  Of  the  Reformation  itfelf  ibid. 

2.  Of  the  oppofition  which  the  devil  has  made  to  the  inter ejls  of 
religion  in  the  churches  of  the  Reformation,  -  271 

p,  Whatfuccefs  the  gofpel  has  lately  had  in  thcfe  churches,  278 

4.   Prefent  Jiate  of  things  with  regard  to  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel,      282 

APPLICATION. 

1,  Truth  of  Chriflianity  argued  from  the  events  of  this  period,         286 

2,  The  fpirit  of  true  Chriflians  afpirit  of  fujfcring,  297 

3,  What  reafon  we  have  to  expeCl  that  events  foretold  in  fcripture,  . 
not  yet  fulfilled,  fiall  he  aaomplifned,  -  298 

i^hly.  How  the  fuccefs  of  redemption  fiall  be  carried  on  from,  the 
prefent  time  until  Antichrifi  is  Jallen,  -  ibid. 

Secondly,  Succefs  of  redemption  through  that  fpace  wherein  the 
Chrifiian  church  fiall for  the  mofi  part  enjoy  profperity,  315 

I,  Profperity  of  the  church  through  the  greater  part  of  this  period,  ibid. 

II.  The  great  apojiafy  that  fhall  take  place,  and  the  danger  that 
Jhall  threaten  the  church  towards  the  end  of  this  period,  321 

S    E     C     T.       II. 

How  the  fuccefs  of  redemption  fnall  be  accomplified  in  glory ^  3  25 

General  remarks  on  this  fuccefs,  -  -  326 

The  particular  manner  in  which  this  fuccefs  is  accomplified,  ihid. 

IMPROVEMENT   of    theWHOLE. 

I.  How  great  a  work  the  work  of  redemption  is,  -  249 

II.  God  the  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  ending  of  all 
things,  -  -  -  -  343 

III.  Chrifl  in  all  things  has  the  preeminence,  -  345 

IV.  The  confijiency,  order,  and  beauty  of  providence,  346 

V.  The  fcriptures  the  word  of  God,  -  -  347 

VI.  The  majejly  and  power  of  God  in  the  work  of  redem.ption,         349 

VII.  The  glorious  wifdom  of  God  in  the  work  of  redemption,  351 

VIII.  Theflahility  of  God's  mercy  and  faithfulnefs  to  his  people,     352 

IX.  How  happy  a  fociety  the  church  ofChrif  is,  ibid. 

X.  The  mifcry  of  thofe  th<it  arc  not  inter eflcd  in  Chriji,  353 

A 


H       I 


OF      THE 


WORK   OF   REDEMPTION. 


^>^>^>^■>' 


r^^-C^^^t-*"— 


1  S  A  I  A  H     li.  8. 

FOR  THE  MOTH  SHALL  EAT  THEM  UP  LUiE  A  GARMENT,  AND  THE 
WORM  SHALL  EAT  THEM  LLKE  WOOL  :  BUT  MY  RIGHTEOUSNESS 
SHALL  BE  FOR  EVER,  AND  MY  SALVATION  FROM  GENERATION  TO 
GENERATION. 


H  E  defign  of  this  chapter  is  to  comfort 
the  church  under  her  fufferings,  and  the 
perfecutions  of  her  enetnies  ;  and  the  ar- 
gument of  confolation  infilled  on  is,  the 
conftancy  and  perpetuity  of  God's  mercy 
and  faithfulnefs  towards  her,  which  fhall 
be  manifeft  in  continuing  to  work  falva- 
tion  for  her,  protecting  her  again  ft  all  af- 
faults  of  her  enemies,  and  carrying  her  fafely  through  all  the 
changes  of  the  world,  and  finally  crowning  her  with  viftoiy 
and  'deliverance. 

In  the  text,  this  happinefs  of  the  church  of  God  is  fet  forth 
by  comparing  it  with  the  contrary  fate  of  her  enemies  that  op- 
prefs  her.     And  therein  we  may  oblerve, 

i4  How  fhort  lived  the  power  and  profperity  of  the  church's 

enemies  is  :  The  mothjiiall  eat  them  up  like  a  garment^  and  the  worm 

fi.all  eat  them  like  wool  \  i,  e*  however  great  their  profperity  is, 

and 


12  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    or  THE 

and  however  great  their  prefent  glory,  they  fliall  by  degrees 
confume  and  vanifh  away  by  a  fecret  curfe  of  God,  until  they 
come  to  nothing  ;  and  all  their  power  and  glory,  and  fo  their 
perfecutions,  eternally  ceafe,  and  they  be  finally  and  irrecover- 
ably ruined,  as  the  fineft  and  mofl  glorious  apparel  will  in 
time  wear  away,  and  be  confumed  by  moths  and  rottennefs.  We 
learn  who  thofe  are  that  fhall  thus  confume  away,  by  the  fore- 
going verfe,  viz.  thofe  that  are  the  enemies  of  God's  people  : 
Hearken  vnto  me,  ye  that  know  righteoujmfs^  the  people  in  zohofe  heart 
IS  my  law,  fear  ye  not  the  reproach  of  7nen,  neither  be  ye  afraid  of  their 
revi  lings, 

2.  The  contrary  happy  lot  and  portion  of  God's  church,  ex- 
prefled  in  thefe  words,  My  righteoufnefs  fhall  be  for  ever,  and  my 
falvation  from  generation  to  generation.  Who  are  meant  as  thofe 
that  fhall  have  the  benefit  of  this,  we  alfo  learn  by  the  preced- 
ing verfe,  viz.  They  that  know  righteoufnefs y  and  the  people  in  whcft 
heart  is  God's  law  ;  or,  in  one  word,  the  church  of  God.  And 
concerning  this  happinefs  of  theirs  here  fpoken  of,  we  may  ob- 
ferve  two  things,  viz.  i.  Wherein  itconfifls  ;  s.  Its  continuance. 

(i.)  Wherein  it  confifts,  viz.  In  God's  righteoufnefs  and  fal- 
vation  toward  them.  By  God's  righteoufnefs  here,  is  meant  his 
faithfulnefs  in  fulfilling  his  covenant  promifes  to  his  church,  or 
his  faithfulnefs  towar4s  his  church  and  people  in  beftowing  the 
benefits  of  the  covenant  of  grace  upon,  them  ;  which  benefits, 
though  they  are  bellowed  of  free  and  fovereign  grace,  as  being 
altogether  undeferved  ;  yet  as  God  has  been  pleafed,  by  the 
promifes  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  to  bind  himfelf  to  bellow  them, 
fo  they  are  bellowed  in  the  exercife  of  God's  righteoufnefs  or 
juftice.  And  therefore  the  apollle  fays,  Heb.  vi,  lo.  God  is  not 
unrighteous,  to  hrgetyour  work  and  labour  of  love*  And  fo,  i  John 
1.  9.  //  we  confefs  our  fins,  he  is  faithful  and  jufi  to  forgive  us  our 
f,ns,  and  to  cleanfe  us  Jrom  all  unrighteoufntfs.  So  the  word  right- 
eoufnefs  is  very  often  ufed  in  fcripture  for  God's  covenant  faith- 
fulnefs ;  fo  it  is  ufed  in  Nehem.  ix.  8.  Thou  hafl  perjormed  thy 
words,  for  thou  art  righteous.  So  we  are  often  to  underfland 
yighteoufnefs  and  covenant  mercy  for  the  fame  thing  ;  as  Pfal, 
xxiv,  5.  He  fliall  receive  th:  bitting  from  the  Lord,  and  righteoufnefs 
from  the  God  of  his  fahation,  Pfal.  xxxvi.  10.  Continue  thy  loving 
kindnefs  to  them  that  know  thee,  and  thy  righteoufnefs  to  the  "upright  in 
heart.  And  Pfal.  li,  14.  Deliver  me  from  blood  guiltinefs,  O  God, 
thou  God  of  myfalvation  :  And  my  tongue  fliall  fin g  aloud  of  thy  right- 
eoufnefs^ 


W  O  R  xK.    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  13 

ecufnefs.     Dan.  ix.  xG.  0  Lord,  according  to  thy  righteoufnefs,    1  ht- 

fetch  thee,  Ut  thine  anger  and  thy  Jury  be  turned  away. And  fo  in 

innumerable  other  places. 

The  other  word  here  ufed  is  jalvation.  Of  thefe  two,  God's 
righteournefs  and  his  falvation,  the  one  is  the  caufe,  of  which 
the  other  is  the  eife6t.  God's  righteoufnefs,  or  covenant  mercy, 
IS  the  root  of  which  his  falvation  is  the  fruit.  Both  of  them 
relate  to  the  covenant  of  grace.  The  one  is  God's  covenant 
mercy  and  faith fulnefs,  the  other  intends  that  work  of  God  by 
which  this  covenant  mercy  is  accomplidied  in  tlie  fruits  of  it. 
For  falvation  is  the  fum  of  all  thofe  works  of  God  by  which  the 
benefits  that  are  by  the  covenant  of  grace  are  procured  a.nd  be- 
flowed. 

(2.)  We  may  obferve  its  continuance,  fignified  here  by  two 
exprefiions  ;  jor  ever,  2ir\d  from  generation  to  generation*  The  lat- 
ter fcems  to  be  explanatory  of  the  former.  The  phrafe  for  ever^ 
is  varioufly  ufed  in  fcripture.  Sometimes  thereby  is  meant  as 
long  as  a  man  lives.  So  it  is  faid,  the  fervant  that  has  his  ear 
bored  through  with  an  awl  to  the  door  of  his  mader,  fliould  be 
hisy^r  ever.  Sometimes  thereby  is  meant  during  the  continu- 
ance of  the  Jewifh  ffate.  So  of  many  of  the  ceremonial  and 
Levitical  laws  it  is  faid,  that  they  fhould  be  flatutes  for  ever. 
Sometimes  it  means  as  long  as  the  world  fiiall  {land,  or  to  the 
end  of  the  generations  of  men.  So  it  is  faid,  Ecclef.  i.  4.  "  One 
generation  pafTeth  away,  and  another  cometh  ;  but  the  earth 
abidethjTjjr  ever."  Sometimes  thereby  is  meant  to  all  eternity. 
So  it  is  faid,  "  God  is  ble{red/(?r  ever,"  Rom.  i.  25.  And  fo  it 
is  faid,   John  vi.  51.  "  If  any  man  eat  of  this  bread,  he  fhall 

live  Jor  ever." And  which  of  thefe  fenfes  is  here  to  be  undcr- 

ftood,  the  next  words  determine,  viz.  to  the  end  of  the  world, 
or  to  the  end  of  the  generations  of  men.  It  is  faid  in  the  next 
words,  "  and  my  falvation  from  generation  to  generation,'*  In- 
deed the  fruits  of  God's  falvation  fhall  remain  after  the  end  of 
the  world,  as  appears  by  the  6th  verfe  ;  "  Lift  up  your  eyes  to 
the  heavens,  and  look  upon  the  earth  beneath  :  For  the  heavens 
fhall  vanifh  away  like  fmoke,  and  the  earth  fhall  wax  old  like  a 
garment,  and  they  that  dwell  therein  (hall  die  in  like  manner, 
but  my  falvation  fhall  be  for  ever,  and  my  righteoufnefs  fhall  not  be 
abolifhed."  But  the  work  of  falvation  itfelf  toward  the  church 
fhall  continue  to  be  wrought  until  then  :  Until  the  end  of  the 
world  God  will  go  on  to  accomplifh  deliverance  and  falvation 

for 


14  A      H    I    S    T   O    R    Y       OF     THE 

for  the  church,  from  all  her  enemies  ;  for  that  is  what  the 
prophet  is  here  fpeaking  of  ;  until  the  end  of  the  world  -,  un- 
til her  enemies  ceafe  to  be,  as  to  any  power  to  molefl;  the  church. 
And  this  expreffion,  from  generation  to  generation,  may  determine 
us  as  to  the  time  which  God  continues  to  carry  on  the  work  of 
falvation  for  his  church,  both  with  refped  to  the  beginning  and 
end.  It  is  from  generation  to  generation,  i.  e.  throughout  all 
generations  ;  beginning  with  the  generations  of  men  on  the 
earth,  and  not  ending  until  thefe  generations  end,  at  the  end  of 
the  world.—: And  therefore  wc  deduce  from  thefe   words  this 

DOCTRINE. 

The  Work  of  Redemption  is  a  work  that  God  carries  on  from  the  Jail  of 
vian  to  the  end  of  the  zvorld. 

TKE  generations  of  mankind  on  the  earth  did  not  begin  un- 
til after  the  fall.  The  beginning  of  the  poflerity  of  our  firfl 
parents  was  after  the  fall  ;  for  all  their  poiterity,  by  ordinary 
generation,  are  partakers  of  the  fall,  and  of  the  corruption 
of  nature  that  followed  from  it  ;  and  thefe  generations,  by 
which  the  human  race  is  propagated,  fhall  continue  to  the  end 
of  the  world  :  So  thefe  two  are  the  limits  of  the  generations  of 
men  on  the  earth  ;  the  fall  of  man,  the  beginning  ;  and  the  end 
of  the  world,  or  the  day  of  judgment,  the  end.  The  fame  are 
the  limits  of  the  work  of  redemption  as  to  thofe  progrelTive 
works  of  God,  by  which  that  redemption  is  brought  about  and 
accomplifhed,  though  not  as  to  the  fruits  of  it  ;  for  they,  as  was 
faid  before,  {hall  be  to  all  eternity. 

The  work  of  redemption  and  the  work  of  falvation  are  the 
fame  thing.  What  is  fometimes  in  fcripture  called  God's  fav- 
ing  his  people,  is  in  other  places  called  his  redeeming  them. 
So  Chrift  is  called  both  the  Saviour  and  the  Redeemer  of  his 
people. 

Before  entering  on  the  propofed  Hiflory  of  the  Work  of 
Redemption,  I  would, 

1,  Explain  the  terms  made  ufe  of  in  the  doftrine  : — and, 

2.  Show  what  thofe  things  are  that  are  defigned  to  be  accom- 
plifhed by  this  great  work  of  God. 

Firll,  I  would  fhow  in  what  fenfe  the  terms  of  the  doftrine 

arc  ufed, And;  i.  I  would   fhow   how   I  would   be  under. 

flood 


WORK    OF     REDEMPTION.  ir 

\  ^ 

flood  when  1  ufe  tlie  word  redemption  ; — and,  2.  How  I  would  be 
underftood  when  I  fay,  this  woik  is  a  work  of  God  carried  on 
from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

I,   I  woivid  fhow  how  I  would  be  underftood  when  I  ufe  the 

word  redemi)tion. And  here  it  may  be  obferved,  that  the  work 

of  redemption  is  fomelimes  underdood  in  a  more  limited  fenle, 
for  the  purchafc  of  falvation  ;  for  fo  the  word  (Iritlly  lignifies, 
a  purchafe  of  deliverance  ;  and  if  we  take  the  word  in  this  re- 
ilrained  fenfe,  the  work  of  redemption  was  not  fo  long  in  do- 
ing. But  it  was  begun  and  finifhed  with  Chrill's  humiliation. 
It  was  all  wrought  while  Chrifh  was  upon  earth.  It  was  begun 
with  Chrilt's  incarnation,  and  carried  on  through  Chrifl's  life, 
and  finifhed  with  his  death,  or  the  time  of  his  remaining  under 
the  power  of  death,  which  ended  in  his  refurreftion  :  And  fo 
we  fay,  that  the  day  of  Chrifl's  refurreftion  is  the  day  when 
Chrifl  finiflied  the  work  of  redemption,  u  e.  then  the  purchafe 
was  finifhed,  and  the  work  itfelf,  and  all  that  appertained  to  it, 
was  virtually  done  and  finiflied,  but  not  actually. 

But  fhen  fometimes  the  work  of  redemption  is  taken  more 
largely,  including  all  that  God  works  or  accompliflies  tending 
to  this  end  ;  not  only  the  purchafing  of  redemption,  but  alfo  all 
God's  vvorks  that  were  properly  preparatory  to  the  purchafe,  or 
as  applying  the  purchafe  and  accomplifhing  the  fuccefs  of  it  : 
So  that  the  whole  difpenfation,  a"s  it  includes  the  preparation 
and  the  purchafe,  and  the  application  and  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  re- 
demption, is  here  called  the  work  of  redemption.  All  that  Chrifl 
does  in  this  great  affair  as  mediator,  in  any  of  his  offices,  either 
of  prophet,  pried,  or  king  ;  either  when  he  was  in  this  world, 
in  his  human  nature,  or  before,  or  fince  ;  and  not  only  what 
Chrifl  the  mediator  has  done,  but  alfo  what  the  Father,  or  the 
Holy  Ghofl,  have  done,  as  united  or  confederated  in  this  defign 
of  redeeming  finful  men  ;  or,  in  one  word,  all  that  is  wrought 
in  execution  of  the  eternal  covenant  of  redemption  ;  this  is  what 
I  call  the  work  of  redemption  in  the  dofclrine  ;  for  it  is  all  but 
one  work,  one  defign.  The  various  difpenfations  or  works  that 
belong  to  it,  are  but  the  feveral  parts  of  one  fcheme.  It  is  but 
one  defign  that  is  formed,  to  which  all  the  offices  of  Chrifl  do 
direftly  tend,  and  in  which  all  the  perfons  of  the  Trinity  do 
confpire,  and  all  the  various  difpenfations  that  belong  to  it  are 
united  ;  and  the  feveral  wheels  are  one  machine,  to  anfwer  one 

end,  and  produce  one  ef?e6l.  * 

II.  When 


X6  A      I-I    I    S    T    O    R    Y      OF    THE 

II,  When  1  fay,  this  work  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  rnan 
to  the  end  of  the  world  ;  in  order  to  the  full  underdanding  of 
my  meaning  in  it,  I  would  dcHre  two  or  three  things  to  be  ob- 
ferved. 

1.  That  it  is  not  meant,  that  nothing  was  done  in  order  to  It 
before  the  fall  of  man.  There  were  many  things  done  in  order 
to  this  work  of  redemption  before  that.  Some  things  were 
done  before  the  world  was  created,  yea  from  all  eterni'.y.  The 
perfons  of  the  Trinity  were  as  it  were  confederated  in  a  defign 
and  a  covenant  of  redemption ;  in  which  covenant  the  Father 
had  appointed  the  Son,  and  the  Son  had  undertaken  the  work  ; 
and  all  things  to  be  accomplifhed  in  the  work  were  flipulated 
and  agreed.  And  befides  thefe,  there  were  things  done  at  the 
creation  of  the  world,  in  order  to  that  work,  before  man  fell  ; 
for  the  world  itfelf  feems  to  have  been  created  in  order  to  it. 
The  work  of  creation  was  in  order  to  God's  works  of  provi- 
dence :  So  that  if  it  be  inquired,  ^  Which  of  thefe  kinds  of 
works  is  the  greateil,  the  works  of  creation  or  the  works  of 
providence?  I  anfwer,  the  works  of  providence;  becaufc  God's 
works  of  providence  are  the  end  of  his  works  of  creation,  as 
the  building  an  houfe,  or  the  forming  an  engine  or  machine,  is 
for  its  ufe.  But  God's  main  work  of  providence  is  this  great 
work  of  God  that  the  dodrine  fpeaks  of,  as  may  more  fully  ap- 
pear hereafter. 

The  creation  of  heaven  was  in  order  to  the  work  of  redemption  : 
It  was  to  be  an  habitation  for  the  redeemed  :  Matth.  xxv.  34. 
"  Then  fhall  the  King  fay  unto  them  on  his  right  hand,  Come, 
ye  bleffed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world."  Even  the  angels  were 
created  to  be  employed  in  this  work.  And  therefore  the  apof- 
tle  calls  them,  ^'"minijtring  fpirits,  fent  forth  to  minifter  for  them 
who  ffiall  be  heirs  of  falvation,"  Heb.  i.  14.  As  to  this  lower 
world,  it  was  doubtlefs  created  to  be  a  ftage  upon  which  this 
great  and  wonderful  work  of  redemption  fhould  be  tranfafted  : 
And  therefore,  as  might  be  fhown,  in  many  refpefts  this  lower 
world  is  wifely  fitted,  in  the  formation,  for  fuch  a  ftate  of  man 
as  he  is  in  fmce  the  fall,  under  a  poflibility  of  redemption ;  fo 
that  when  it  is  faid,  that  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on 
from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world,  it  is  not  meant, 
that  all  that  ever  was  done  in  order  to  redemption  has  been 
done  fince  the  fall.     Nor, 

2.  Is 


work:    op    redemption.  tj 

t.  Is  it  meant  that  there  will  be  no  remaining  fruits  of  this 
Work  after  the  end  of  the  world.  The  greateft  fruits  cf  all 
will  be  after  that.  That  glory  and  bleffednefs  that  will  be  the 
fum  of  all  the  fruits,  will  remain  to  all  the  faints  after  that* 
The  work  of  redemption  is  not  an  eternal  work,  i.  e.  it  is  not  a 
work  always  a  doing  and  never  accomplilhed.  But  the  fruits 
of  this  work  are  eternal  fruits.  The  work  has  an  ifTue.  But 
in  the  iffue  the  end  will  be  obtained  ;  which  end  will  never 
have  an  end.  As  thofe  things  that  were  in  order  to  this  work 
before  the  beginning  of  the  world,  as  Goal's  ele£ling  love,  and 
the  covenant  of  redemption,  never  had  a  beginning  ;  fo  the 
fruits  of  this  work,  that  {hall  be  after  the  end  of  the  world, 
never  will  have  an  end.     And  therefore, 

3,  When  it  is  faid  in  the  doftrine,  that  this  is  a  work  that 
God  is  carrying  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world, 
\vhat  I  mean  is,  that  thofe  things  that  belong  to  this  work  itfclf, 
and  are  parts  of  this  fcheme,  are  all  this  while  accomplifhing. 
There  are  things  that  are  in  order  to  it  that  are  before  the  be- 
ginning of  it,  and  fruits  of  it  that  are  after  it  is  finiflied.  But 
the  work  itfelf  is  fo  long  a  doing,  even  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  it  is  all  this  while  a  carrying  on.  It  was 
begun  immediately  upon  the  fall,  and  will  continue  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  and  then  will  be  finifhed.  The  various  difpenfa- 
tions  of  God  that  are  in  this  fpaco^  do  belong  to  the  fame  work, 
and  to  the  fame  defign,  and  have  all  one  ifTue ;  and  therefore 
are  all  to  be  reckoned  but  as  feveral  parts  of  one  work,  as  it  were 
fcveral  fucceflive  motions  of  one  machine,  to  bring  about  in  the 
conclufion  one  great  event. 

And  here  alfo  we  muft  diftinguifh  between  the  parts  of  re- 
demption itfelf,  and  the  parts  of  the  work  by  which  that  redemp- 
tion is  wrought  out.  There  is  a  difference  between  the  parts  of 
the  benefits  procured  and  beftowed,  and  the  parts  of  the  work 
of  God  by  which  thofe  benefits  were  procured  and  beftowed. 
As,  for  example,  there  is  a  difference  between  the  parts  of  the 
benefit  that  the  children  of  Ifrael  received,  confi fling  in  their 
redemption  out  of  Egypt,  and  the  parts  of  that  work  of  God  by 
which  this  was  wrought.  The  redemption  of  the  children  of 
Ifrael  out  of  Egypt,  confidcred  as  the  benefit  which  they  enjoy- 
ed, confided  of  two  parts,  viz.  their  deliverance  from  their 
former  Egyptian  bondage  and  mifery,  and  their  being  brought 
into  a  more  happy  ftatc,  as  the  fcrvants  of  God,  and  heirs  of 
B  Canaan« 


*8  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF   Tfia 

Canaan,  But  there  are  many  more  things  which  are  parts  of 
that  work  of  God  which  is  called  his  work  of  redemption  of 
Ifrael  out  of  Egypt.  To  this  belongs  his  calling  of  Mofes,  his 
.fending  him  to  Pharaoh,  and  all  the  figns  and  wonders  he 
wrought  in  Egypt,  and  his  bringing  fuch  terrible  judgments  on 
the  Egyptians,  and  many  other  things  ;.. 

It  is  this  work  by  which  God  effefts  redemption  that  w<&  arc 
fpeaking  of.  This  work  is  carried  oti  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
the  end  of  the  world  ;  and  it  is  fo  in  two  refpefts. 

(i)  With  refpefl:  to  the  effeQ;  wrought  on  the  fouls  of  the  re- 
deemed ;  which  is  common  to  all  ages  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
the  end  of  the  world.  This  effect  that  I  here  fpeak  of,  is  the 
application  of  redemption  with  refped  to  the  fouls  of  particular 
perfons,  in  converting,  juftifying,  fandifying  and  glorifying 
of  them.  By  thefe  things  the  fouls  of  particular  perfons  are  ac- 
tually redeemed,  and  do  receive  the  benefit  of  the  work  of  re- 
demption in  its.  effeft  in  their  fouls.  And  in  this  fenfe  the 
work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  from 
the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world.  The  work  of  God  in 
converting  fouls,  opening  blind  eyes,  unftopping  deaf  ears,  raif- 
ing  dead  fouls  to  life^  and  refcuingthe  miferable  captivated  fouls 
out  of  the  h^nds  of  Satan,  was  begun  foon  after  the  fall  of  man, 
has  been  carried  on  in  the  woild  ever  fince  to  this  day,  and  will 
be  to  the  end  of  the  world.  God  has  always,  ever  fmce  the  firfl 
ere6ling  of  the  church  of  the  redeemed  after  the  fall,  had  fuch 
,a  church  in  the  world.  Though  oftentimes  it  has  been  reduced 
,to  a  very  narrow  compafs,  and  to  low  circumflances ; .  yet  it  has 
never  wholly  failed. 

And  as  God  carries  on  the  work  of  converting  the  fouls  of 
fallen  men  through  all  thefe  ages,  fo  he  goes  on  to  juilify  them, 
to  blot  out  all  their  fins,  and  to  accept  them  as  righteous  in  his 
light,  through  the  righteoufnefs  of:  Ch rift,  and  adopt  and re^eivp 
them  from  being  the  children  of  Satan,  to  be  his  own  children  ; 
£o  alfo  he  goes  on  to  fandify,  or  to  carry  on  tke  work  of  his 
grace,  which  he  has  begun  in  them,,  and  to  comfort  them  with 
the  confolations  of  his  Spirit,  and  to  glorify  them,  to  bellow, up- 
on them,  when  their  bodies  die,,  that  eternal  glory  which  is  the 
fruit  of  the  purchafe  of  Chrift^  -What  is  faid,  Rom.  viii.  30, 
i'  Whom  he  did  predeftinate,  them  he  alfo  called  ;  and  \yhojiji 
he  called,  them  he  alfo  juftified ;  ,-swid^  whom  he  juflified,  them 

he 


WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  119 

h«alfo  glorified  :"     I  fay  this  is  applicable  to  all  ages,  from  the 
fall,  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

The  way  that  the  work  of  redemption,  with  refpeft  to  thcfe 
cffefts  of  it  on  the  fouls  of  the  redeemed,  is  carried  on  from  the.- 
fall  to  the  end  of  the  world,  is  by  repeating  and  continually 
working  the  fame  work  over  again,  though  in  different  perfons, 
from  age  to  age.     But, 

(2)  The  work  of  redemption  with  refpeft  to  the  grand  defign 
in  general,  a$  it  rofpe^ls  the  univerfal  fubjeft  and  end,  is  carried 
on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world  in  a  different 
manner,  ndt^merely  by  repeating  or  renev/ing  the  fame  effett  in 
the  different  fubjefts  of  it,  but  by  many  fuccefilve  works  and 
difpenfations  of  God,  all  tending  to  one  great  end  and  ef- 
feft,  all  united  as  the  feveral  parts  of  a  fcheme,  and  all  together 
making  up  one  great  work.  Like  an  homfe  or  temple  that  is 
building ;  firft,  the  workmen  are  fent  forth,  then  the  materials 
are  gathered,  then  the  ground  fitted,  then  the  foundation  is  laid, 
then  the  fuperftrufture  is  ere£i;ed,  one  part  after  another,  until 
at  length  the  top  ftone  is  laid,  arid  all  is  finiihed.  Now  the 
work  of  redemption  in  that  large  fenfe  that  has  been  explained, 
may  be  compared  to  fuch  a  building,  that  is  carrying  on  from 
the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world.  God  went  about  it 
immediately  after  the  fall  of  man.  Some  things  were  done  to- 
wards it  immediately,  as  may  be  fhown  hereafter ;  and  fo  God 
has  proceeded,  as  it  were,  getting  materials  and  building,  ever 
fince;  and  fo  will  proceed  to  the  end  of  the  world;  and  then 
the  time  will  come  when  the  top  ftone  fhall  be  brought  forth, 
and  all  will  appear  complete  and  confummate.  The  glorioua 
ftrufture  will  then  ftand  forth  in  its  prdper  perfeftion. 

This  work  is  carried  on  in  the  former  refpccl  that  has  been 
mentioned,  viz.  as  to  the  effeft  on  the  fouls  of  particular  per- 
fons that  are  redeemed,  by  its  being  an  effeft  that  is  common  to 
all  ages.  The  work  is  carried  on  in  this  latter  refpeft,  viz.  as 
it  refpefts  the  church  of  God,  and  the  grand  defign  in  general, 
it  is  carried  on,  not  only  by  that  which  is  common  to  all  ages, 
but  by  fucceflive  works  wrought  in  different  ages,  all .  parts  of 
one  whole,  or  one  great  fcheme,  whereby  one  v/ork  is  brought 
about  by  various  fleps,  one  ftep  in  one  age,  and  another  in 
another.  It  is  this  carrying  on  of  the  work  of  redemption  that 
I  fhall  chiefly  infill:  upon,  though  not  excluding  the  former;  fo» 
one  neceffarily  fuppofes  the  other. 

Having 


20  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THe 

Having  thus  explained  what  I  mean  by  the  terms  of  the  doc<» 
trine  ;  that  you  may  the  more  clearly  fee  how  the  great  defign 
and  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
the  end  of  the  world  j  I  fay,  in  order  to  this, 

I  now  proceed,  in  the  fecond  place,  to  fhcw  what  is  thedeHgn 
of  this  great  work,  or  what  things  are  defigned  to  be  done  by  it. 
In  order  to  fee  how  a  defign  is  carried  on,  we  muft  firit  know 
what  the  defign  is.  To  know  how  a  workman  proceeds,  and  to 
underftand  the  various  fteps  he  takes  in  order  to  accomplifh  a 
piece  of  work,  we  need  to  be  informed  what  he  is  about,  or 
xvhat  the  thing  is  that  he  intends  to  accomplifh;  otherwife  we 
ma)'-  ftand  by,  and  fee  him  do  one  thing  after  another,  and  be 
quite  puzzled  and  in  the  dark,  feeing  nothing  of  his  fcheme,  and 
undei  {landing  nothing  of  what  he  means  by  it.  If  an  architeft, 
with  a  great  number  of  hands,  were  a  building  fome  great  pal- 
ace, and  one  that  was  a  ftranger  to  fuch  things  fhould  Hand  by, 
and  fee  fome  men  digging  in  the  earth,  others  bringing  timber, 
others  hewing  flones,  and  the  like,  he  might  fee  that  there  was 
a  great  deal  done  ;  but  if  he  knew  not  the  defign,  it  would  all  ap- 
pear to  him  confufion.  And  therefore,  that  the  great  works  and 
difpenfations  of  God  that  belong  to  this  great  affair  of  redemp- 
tion may  not  appear  like  confufion  to  you,  I  would  fet  before 
you  briefly  the  main  things  defigned  to  be  accomplifhed  in  this 
great  work,  to  accomplifh  which  God  began  to  work  prefently 
after  the  fall  of  man,  and  will  continue  working  to  the  end  of 
the  world,  when  the  whole  work  will  appear  completely  finifh- 
ed.  And  the  main  things  defigned  to  be  done  by  it  are  thcfc 
that  follow. 

I.  It  is  to  put  all  God's  enemies  under  his  feet,  and  that  the 
goodnefs  of  God  fliould  finally  appear  triumphing  over  all  evil, 
fcoon  after  the  world  was  created,  evil  entered  into  the  world  ia 
the  fall  of  the  angels  and  man.  Prefently  after  God  had  made 
rational  creatures,  there  were  enemies  who  rofe  up  againfl  him 
from  among  them  ;  and  in  the  fall  of  man  evil  entered  into  this 
lower  world,  and  God's  enemies  rofe  i^p  againft  him  here.  Sa- 
tan rofq  tip  againfl  God,  endeavouring  to  fruftrate  his  defign  in 
the  creation  of  this  lower  world,  to  deflroy  his  workmanfhip 
here,  and  to  wreft  the  government  of  this  lower  world  out  of  his 
hands,  and  ufurp  the  throne  himfelf,  and  fet  up  himfelf  as  god 
of  this  world  inftead  of  the  God  that  made  it.  And  to  thcfe 
ends  he  introduced  Cm  into  the  world ;  and  having  made  man 

God's 


.*  "» 


WORK    Of    REDEMPTION.  ,V 

Cod's  enemy,  he  brought  guilt  on  man,  and  brought  death  and 
the  moft  extreme  and  dreadful  mifery  into  the  world. 

Now  one  great  defign  of  God  in  the  affair  of  redemption  was, 
^o  reduce  and  fubduc  thofc  enemies  of  God,  until  they  fhould 
all  be  put  under  God's  feet :  i  Cor.  xv.  25.  "  He  mufl  reign 
until  he  hath  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet.'*  Things  were  o* 
riginally  io  planned  and  defigned,  that  he  might  difappoint  and 
confound,  and  triumph  over  Satan,  and  that  he  might  be  bruit- 
ed under  Chrift's  feet.  Gen.  iii,  15.  The  promife  was  given, 
that  the  feed  of  the  woman  fhould  bruife  the  ferpent's  head. 
It  was  a  part  of  God's  original  defign  in  this  work,  to  deftroy 
the  works  of  the  devil,  and  confound  him  in  all  his  purpofes  : 
1  John  iii.  8.  "  For  this  purpofe  was  the  Son  of  God  manifeft- 
€d,  that  he  might  deflroy  the  works  of  the  devil.'*  It  was  a 
part  of  his  defign,  to  triumph  over  fin,  and  over  the  corruptions 
of  men,  and  to  root  them  out  of  the  hearts  of  his  people,  by  con- 
forming them  to  himfelf.  He  defigned  aHo,  that  his  grace 
Ihould  triumph  over  man's  guilt,  and  that  infinite  demerit  that 
there  is  in  fin.  Again,  it  was  a  part  of  his  defign,  to  triumph 
over  death ;  and  however  this  is  the  lafl  enemy  that  fhall  be 
deflroyed,  yet  that  fhall  finally  be  vanquifhed  and  deflroyed. 

God  thus  appears  glorioufly  above  all  evil ;  and  triumphing 
over  all  his  enemies,  was  one  great  thing  that  God  intended  by 
the  "work  of  redemption  ;  and  the  work  by  which  this  was  to 
be  done,  God  immediately  went  about  as  foon  as  man  fell ;  and 
fo  goes  on  until  he  fully  accomplifhes  it  in  the  end  of  the  world. 

II,  In  doing  this,  God's  defign  was  perfectly  to  reftore  all 
the  ruins  of  the  fall,  fo  far  as  concerns  the  eleft  part  of  the 
world,  by  his  Son ;  and  therefore  we  read  of  the  njiitution  of  all 
things,  Afts  iii.  21.  <^  Whom  the  heaven  mufl  receive,  until  the 
times  of  the  rcftitution  of  all  things  ;"  and  of  the  times  of  rejrtjliing 
from  the  prefence  of  the  Lord  Jtjus,  A£ls  iii.  19.  "  Repent  ye, 
therefore,  and  be  converted,  that  your  finS  may  be  blotted  out, 
when  the  times  of  rejrejiiing  fliall  come  from  the  prefence  of  the 
Lord." 

Man's  foul  was  ruined  by  the  fall ;  the  image  of  God  was 
ruined  ;  man's  nature  was  corrupted  and  deflroyed,  and  man  be- 
came dead  in  fm.  The  defign  of  God  v/as,  to  reflore  the  foul 
of  man  ;  to  reflore  life  to  it,  and  the  image  of  God,  in  conver- 
fion,  and  to  carry  on  the  reftoration  in  fanftification,  and  to 
perfefl  it  in  glory,  Man's  body  was  ruined  ;  by  the  fall  it  be- 
came 


#• 


t 


eame  Hibjeft  to  death.,  The  dcfign  of  God  was,  to  rcftorc  it 
from  this  ruin,  and  not  only  to  deliver  it  from  death  in  the  ref- 
urreftion,  but  to  deliver  it  from  mortality  itfelf,  in  oic^king  it 
like  unto  Chrift's  glorious  body.  The  world  was  ruined,  as  to 
inani  as  effeftually  as  if  it  had  been  reduced  to  chaoi  again  ;  all 
iie^ven  and  e^rth  were  overthrown.  But  the  deiign  of  God 
\3faS5  to  reftore  all,  and  as  it  were  to  create  a  new  heaven  and  a 
new  earth  :  If,  Ixv.  1 7.  "  Behold,  I  create  new  h^ayeqs,  ^nd  a 
new  earth  ;  and  the  former  fhall  not  he  ^remembered,  nor  come 
into  mind."  2  Pet.  iii.  13.  "  Neverthelefs  we,  according  to  his, 
promife,  look  for  new  heavens,  and  a  new  earth,  wherein 
dwelleth  righteoufnefs.'* 

.  T^e  work  by  whip^  this  was  to  be  done,  was  begun  immedi- 
i^tcly  after  the  fall,  ^nd  fo  is  carried  on  until  all  is  finiihed  at 
ihfO,  end,  "yvhen  the  whole  world,  heaven  and  earth,  Ihall  be  re- 
flored  ;  and  there  fhall  be,  as  it  were,  iie\y  heavens,  and  a  new 
^iurfch,  in  a  fpiritual  fenfe,  at  the  end  of  tl>e  world.  Thus  it  is 
reprefentcd,  Rev.  xxi.  1.  "  And  I  faw  a  new  heaven,  and  a  new 
earth  ;  for  the  firll  heaven  and  the  firft  earth  werepaffed  away." 
III.  Another  great  deiign  of  God  in  the  work  of  redemption, 
was  to  gather  together  in  one  all  things  in  Chri(l,  in  heaven  and 
in  earth,  i.  e.  all  eleft  creatures  ;  to  bring  all  ele6l  creatures,  in 
heaven  and  in  earth,  to  an  union  one  to  another  in  one  body, 
under  one  head,  and  to  unite  all  together  in  one  body  to  God 
the  Father.  This  was  begun  foon  after  the  fall,  and  is  carried 
o.n  through  all  ages  of  the  world,  and  finifhedat  the  end  of  the 
world. 

i:IV.  God  defigned  by  this  work  to  perfeft  and  complete  the 
glory  of  all  the  elG6l  by  Chrift.  Jt  was  a  defign  of  God  to  ad« 
vance  the  eleft  to.  an  exceeding  pitch  of  glory,  *'  fuch  as 
€ye  hath  not  feen,  nor  ear  heard,  nor  has  ever  entered  into  the 
heart  of  man."  He  intended  to  bring  them  to  perfeft  excel- 
lency and  beauty  in.  his  image,  and  in  holinefs,  which  is  the 
proper  beauty  of  fpiritual  beings  ;  and  to  advance  them  to  a  glo- 
rious degree  of  honour,  and  alfo  to  an  ineffable  pitch  of  pleaf- 
ure  and  joy  ;  and  thus  to  glorify  the  whole  church  of  ele6t  men 
in  foul  and  body,  and  with  them  to  bring  the  glory  of  the  ele6t 
angels  to  its,  highell  pitch  under  one  head.  The  work  which 
tends  to  this.  Cod  began  immediately  after  the  fell,  and  carries; 
on  through  all  ag«s,  and  will  haVc  perfe6t^d  at  the  end  of  the 
'Ji-orld. 

V,  In 


WORK   b?  =  R  E  t)  £  U?t  ION.  ag 

*  V.'  Iti  all  this  G<&ci' d^figned  tb  accomplifti  the  glory  of  thfc 
blefled  Trinity  ih  arf  exceedfhg  degrfee.  Gtd  had  a  defign  of 
glorifying  himfelfTrom  eternity:  to  gloHfy  each  pferfon  ih  the 
Godhead.  The  end  muft  be  confidered  as  firfl  in  the  order  of 
.^ikturc,  and  thth  the  means  ;  and  thertfore  we  muft  conceive, 
Vhat  God  having  profteffed  this  dnd,  had  then  as  it  wfere  the 
means  to'chooffe  \  ahd  the  pirihcipal  m^an  that  he  pitched  upoa 
*^'^s  this  great  \^>^6rk.  df  riedemption  that  we  are  fpeaking  ofw'  It 
was  his  defign  in  this  Wotk  to  glorify  hh  only  begotten  Son,  J^^ 
fus  Ghrifl  ;  and  it  was  his  defign,  by  the  Son  to  glorify  thfe  Fa- 
ther ;  John  xiii.  ^i,^i,  *«  Now  is  the  Son  of  Man  glorified, 
and  God  is  glorified  in  him.  If  God  be  glotified  in  him,  God 
alfo  fiiail  glorify  him  in  himfelf,  aiid  fhall  ftVaightway  glorify 
him.'"  It  was  hiis  dfefign  that  the  Son  fhould  thus  be  glorified, 
aitid  fhould  glorify  the  Father  by  what  fhould  be  accomplifhed 
by  the  Spirit  to  th^  gloiy  of  the  Spirit,  that  the  whole  Trinit;^, 
conjunftly,  and  each  perfon  fingly,  might  be  exceedingly  glorifi- 
ed. The  work  that  was  the  appointed  means  of  this,  was  be- 
gun immediately  after  the  fall,  and  is  carried  on  until,  and  fin- 
ifhed  at,  the  end  of  the  world,  when  all  this  intended  glory 
fhall  be  fully  accomplifhed  in  all  tjiings. 

Having  thus  explained  the  terms  made  ufe  of  in  the  doctrine, 
and  fhown  what  the  things  are  which  are  to  be  accomplifhed  by 
this  great  work  of  God,  I  proceed  now  to  the  propofed  Hiflory ; 
that  is,  to  fhow  how  what  was  defigned  by  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion has  been  accomplifhed,  in  the  various  Heps  of  this  work, 
from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

In  order  to  this,  I  would  divide  this  whole  fpace  of  time  into 
three  periods  : The 

ifl,  Reaching  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of 
Chrifl; — the 

2d,  From  Chrift's  incarnation  until  his  refurreftion  ;  or  the 
whole  time  of  Chrifl's  humiliation  ; — the 

3d,   From  thence  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

It  may  be  fome  may  be  ready  to  think  this  a  very  unequal  di- 
vifion  ;  and  it  is  fo  indeed  in  fome  refpe6ls.  It  is  fo,  becaufe 
thtitecond  period  is  fo  much  the  greateft  :  For  although  it  be 
fo  much  fhorter  than  either  of  the  other,  being  but  between 
thirty  and  forty  years,  whereas  both  the  other  contain  thoufands  ; 
yet  in  this  affair  that  we  are  now  upon,  it  is  more  than  both  the 
others, — I  would  therefore  proceed  to  fhow  diftinftly  how  the 

work 


84  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   «p   tut 

ivork  of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  t<y  the 
6nd  of  the  world,  through  each  of  thefe  periods  in  their  order  ; 
which  I  would  do  under  three  propofitions  5  one  concerning 
each  period. 

I,  That  Jrom  the  faU'of  man  until  the  incarnation  of  Chrijt,  God 
was  doing  thofc  things  that  were  preparatory  to  Chrijl's  coming,  and 
working  out  redemption,  and  were  forerunners  and  earnejls  of  it* 

II,  V  That  the  time  from  Chri/l's  incarnationy  until  his  refurreBion^  wai 
fpent  in  procuring  and  purchafing  redemption^ 

III,  That  the  {pace  of  time  from  the  refurreSlion  of  Chrifi  to  the  end 
of  the  world,  is  all  taken  up_  in  bringing  about  or  accompli/hing  the  great 
ejfeSl  or  fuccefs  of  that  purchafe. 

In  a  particular  confideration  of  thefe  three  propofitions,  the 
great  truth  taught  in  the  doftrine  may  perhaps  appear  in  a  clear 
light,  and  we  may  fee  how  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on 
from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world. 


rtKlOD 


tV  O  R  K    OF   R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N,  25 

PERIOD  I. 

From  the  Fall  to  the   Incarnation. 

IVIY  firft  taflc  is,  to  (how  how  the  work  of  re- 
demption is  carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of 
Chrifii  under  the^r/Z  propofdion,  viz. 

That  thefpace  oftimejrom  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrifi^ 
tuas  taken  up  in  doing  thofe  things  that  were  forerunners  and  earnefls  of 
Chrifl's  coming,  and  working  out  redemption,  and  were  preparatory  to  it. 

The  great  works  of  God  in  the  world  during  this  whole  fpace 
bf  time,  were  all  preparatory  to  this.  There  were  many  great 
changes  and  revolutions  in  the  world,  and  they  were  all  only  the 
turning  of  the  wheels  of  providence  in  order  to  this,  to  make 
way  for  the  coming  of  Chrift,  and  what  he  was  to  do  in  the 
worldi  They  all  pointed  hither,  and  all  iffued  here.  Hither 
tended  efpecially  all  God's  great  works  towards  his  church. 
The  church  was  under  various  difpenfations  of  providence,  and 
in  very  various  circumflances,  before  Chrifl  came.  But  all 
^hefe  difpenfations  were  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming, 
God  wrought  falvation  for  the  fouls  of  men  through  all  that 
fpace  of  time,  though  the  number  was  very  fmall  to  what  it  was 
afterwards  ;  and  all  this  falvation  was,  as  it  were,  by  way  of  an- 
ticipation. All  the  fouls  that  were  faved  before  Chrifl  came, 
were  only  as  it  were  the  earnefls  of  the  future  harvefl. 

God  wrought  many  lefTer  falvations  and  deliverances  for  his 
church  and  people  before  Chrifl  came,  I'hefe  falvations  were 
all  but  fo  many  images  and  forerunners  of  the  great  falvation 
Chrifl  was  to  work  out  when  he  Ihould  come.  God  revealed 
himfelf  of  old,  from  time  to  time,  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the 
coming  of  Chrifl.  The  church  during  that  fpace  of  time  en* 
joyed  the  light  of  divine  revelation,  or  God's  word.  They  had 
in  a  degree  the  light  of  the  gofpel.  But  all  thefe  revelations 
were  only  fo  many  forerunners  and  earnefls  of  the  great  light 
that  he  fhould  bring  who  came  to  be  the  light  of  the  world. 
That  whole  fpace  of  time  was  as  it  were  the  time  of  night, 
wherein  the  church  of  God  was  not  indeed  wholly  without 

C  light: 


a6  AHISTORY<yp  thb  Period  !• 

light :  But  it  was  like  the  light  of  the  moon  and  ftars  that  wc 
have  in  the  night  ;  a  dim  light  in  comparifon  of  the  light  of  the 
fun,  and  mixed  with  a  great  deal  of  darkncfs.  It  had  no  glory, 
by  reafon  of  the  glory  that  excelleth,  2  Cor,  iii.  10.  The  church 
had  indeed  the  light  of  the  fun,  but  it  was  only  as  reflefted  from 
the  moon  and  ftars.  The  church  all  that  while  was  a  minor. 
This  the  apoftle  evidently  teaches  in  Gal.  iv.  1,  2,  3.  "  Now  X 
fay,  that  the  heir  as  long  as  he  is  a  child,  differeth  nothing  from 
a  fervant,  thougli  he  be  lord  of  all ;  but  is  under  tutors  and  gov- 
ernours,  until  the  time  appointed  of  the  father.  Even  fo  we, 
when  we  were  children,  were  in  bondage  under  the  elements  of 
the  world," 

But  here,  for  the  greater  clearnefs  and  diftinflnefs,  I  would 
fubdivide  this  period,  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  coming  of 
Chrift,  into  fix  leffer  periods,  or  parts, The 

ift,  Extending  from  the  fall  to  the  flood  ;— the 

2d,  From  thence  to  the  calling  of  Abraham  ; — the 

3d,  From  thence  to  Mofes  ;- — the 

4th,  From  thence  to  David  ; — the 

5th,  From  David  to  the  captivity  into  Babylon  ;— and  the 

6th,  From  thence  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrift. 


Part         I, 

From  the   Fall    to  the  Floobs 

THIS  was  a  period  farthefl  of  all  diftant  from  Chrift's  incar- 
nation ;  yet  then  this  great  \  rork  was  begun  to  be  carried  on  ; 
then  was  this  glorious  buitding  begun,  that  will  not  be  finifhed 
until  the  end  of  the  world,  as  I  would  now  ftiow  you  how» 
And  to  this  purpofe  I  would  obferve, 

I.  As  foon  as  ever  man  fell,  Chrift  entered  on  his  mediatorial 
work.  Then  it  was  that  Chrift  firft  took  on  him  the  work  and 
office  of  a  mediator.  He  had  undertaken  it  before  the  world 
was  made.  He  ftood  engaged  with  the  Father  to  appear  as  man's 
mediator,  and  to  take  on  him  that  office  when  there  fliould  beoc- 
cafion,  from  all  eternity.  But  now  the  time  was  come.  When 
man  fell,  then  the  occafion  came ;  and  then  Chrift  immediately, 
without  further  delay,  entered  on  his  work,  and  took  on  him  that 

office    ^ 


f^rtl.        WORK    OF    RED  EM  PTIO  N.  a; 

cfHce  that  he  had  flood  engaged  to  take  on  him  from  eternity. 
As  foon  as  ever  man  fell,  Chriflthe  eternal  Son  of  God  clothed 
himfelf  with  the  mediatorial  character,  and  therein  prefented 
himfelf  before  the  Father.  He  immediately  flepped  in  between 
an  holy,  infinite,  offended  Majefty,  and  offending  mankind  ; 
and  was  accepted  in  his  interpofition  ;  and  fo  wrath  was  pre- 
vented from  going  forth  in  the  fuU  execution  of  that  amazing 
curfe  that  man  had  brought  on  himfelf. 

It  is  manifeff  that  Chrifl  began  to  exercife  the  ofHce  of  medi- 
ator between  God  and  man  as  foon  as  ever  man  fell,  becaufc 
mercy  began  to  be  exercifed  towards  man  immediately.  There 
was  mercy  in  the  forbearance  of  God,  that  he  did  not  dcflroy 
him,  as  he  did  the  angels  when  they  fell.  But  there  is  no  mer- 
cy exercifed  toward  fallen  man  but  through  a  mediator.  If 
God  had  not  in  mercy  reftrained  Satan,  he  would  immediately 
have  feized  on  his  prey,  Chrifl  began  to  do  the  part  of  an  in- 
tercefTor  for  man  as  foon  as  he  fell.  There  is  no  mercy  exercif- 
cd  towards  man  but  what  is  obtained  through  Chr ill's  intercef- 
iion  ;  fo  that  now  Chrifl  was  entered  on  his  work  that  he  was 
to  continue  in  throughout  all  ages  of  the  world.  From  that  day 
forward  Chrifl  took  on  him  the  care  of  the  church  of  the  ele6l : 
He  took  on  him  the  care  of  falkn  man  in  the  exercife  of  all  his 
.offices  ;  he  undertook  thenceforward  to  teach  mankind  in  the 
exercife  of  his  prophetical  office  ;  and  alfo  to  intercede  for  fall- 
en man  in  his  prieflly  office  ;  and  he  took  on  him,  as  it  were, 
the  care  and  burden  of  the  government  of  the  church,  and  of  the 
world  of  mankind,  from  this  day  forward.  He  from  that  time 
took  upon  him  the  care  of  the  defence  of  his  ele6l  church  from 
all  their  enemies.  When  Satan,  the  grand  enemy,  had  con- 
<5[uered  and  overthrown  man,  the  bufinefs  of  refilling  and  con- 
quering him  was  committed  to  Chrifl,  He  thenceforward  un- 
dertook to  manage  that  fubtle  powerful  adverfary.  He  was 
then  appointed  the  Captain  of  the  Lord's  hofls,  and  the  Cap- 
tain of  their  falvation,  and  always  a£led  as  fuch  thenceforward  ; 
And  fo  he  appeared  from  time  to  time,  a«d  he  will  continue  to 
a6l  as  fuch  to  the  end  of  the  world.  Henceforward  this  lower 
world,  with  all  its  concerns,  was,  as  it  were,  devolved  upon  the 
Son  of  God  :  For  when  man  had  finned,  God  the  Father  would 
have  no  more  to  do  with  man  immediately  ;  he  would  no  more 
have  any  immediate  concern  with  this  world  of  mankind,  that 
had  apoflatized  from  and  rebelled  againfl  him.  He  would 
henceforward  have  no  concern  with  man,  but  only  through  a 

mediator. 


28  aHISTORYop  the  Period  h 

mediator,  either  in  teaching  men,  or  in  governing  or  beflowing 
any  benefits  on  them. 

And  therefore,  when  we  read  in  facred  hiftory  what  God  did 
from  time  to  time  towards  his  church  and  people,  and  what  he 
faid  to  them,  and  how  he  revealed  himfelf  to  them,  we  are  to 
underftand  :t  efpecially  of  the  fecond  perfon  of  the  Trinity. 
When  we  read  of  God's  appearing  after  the  fall,  from  time  to 
time,  in  fome  vifible  form  or  outward  fymbol  of  his  prefence,  we 
are  ordinarily,  if  not  univerfally,  to  underftand  it  of  the  fecond 
perfon  of  the  Trinity  :  Which  may  be  argued  from  John  i,  18. 
'*  No  man  hath  feen  God  at  any  time  ;  the  only  begotten  Son, 
which  is  in  the  bofom  of  the  Father,  he  hath  declared  him," 
He  is  therefore  called  "  the  image  of  the  invifible  God,'*  Col,  i. 
15.  intimating,  that  though  God  the  Father  be  invifible,  yet 
Chrift  is  his  image  or  reprefentation,  by  which  he  is  feen,  or  by 
which  the  church  of  God  hath  often  had  a  reprefentation  of  him, 
that  is  not  invifible,  and  in  particular  that  Chrifl  has  after  apr 
peared  in  an  human  form.    ' 

Yea,  not  only  was  this  lower  world  devolved  on  Chrift,  that 
he  might  have  the  care  and  government  of  it,  and  order  it  agree- 
ably to  his  defign  of  redemption,  but  alfo  in  fome  refpeft  the 
whole  univerfe.  The  angels  from  that  time  were  committed  to 
him,  to  be  fubjeft  to  him  in  his  mediatorial  office,  to  be  minif- 
tering  fpirits  to  him  in  this  aff^air  ;  and  accordingly  were  fo  from 
this  time  forward,  as  is  manifeft  by  the  fcripture  hiftory,  where- 
in we  have  accounts  from  time  to  time  of  their  afting  as  minif- 
tering  fpirits  in  the  aff^airs  of  the  church  of  Chrift. 

And  therefore  we  may  fuppoie,  that  immediately  on  the  fall 
of  man,  it  was  made  known  in  heaven  among  the  angels,  that 
God  had  a  defign  of  redemption  with  refpe^l  to  fallen  man,  and 
that  Chrift  had  now  taken  upon  him  the  office  and  work  of  a 
mediator  between  God  and  man,  that  they  might  know  their 
bufinefs  henceforward,  which  was  to  be  fubfervient  to  Chrift,  in 
this  office.  And  as  Chrift,  in  this  office,  has  fince  that,  as 
Godman  and  Mediator,  been  folemnly  exalted  and  inftalled  the 
King  of  heaven,  and  is  thenceforward  as  Godman,  Mediator,  the 
light,  and  as  it  were,  the  Sun  of  heaven,  agreeable  to  Rev.  xxi. 
23.  "'•  And  the  city  had  no  need  of  the  fun,  neither  of  the  moon, 
to  fhine  in  it ;  for  the  glory  of  God  did  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb 
is  the  light  thereof;"  fo  this  revelation  that  was  made  in  heaven 
among  the  angels,  of  Chrift's  now  having  taken  on  him  the  office 
of  a  mediator  between  God  and  man,  was  as  it  were  the  firft  dawn- 
ing 


Parti.        WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  29 

ing  of  this  light  in  heaven.  When  Chrift  afcended  into  heaven 
^fter  his  pafTion,  and  was  folemnly  inftalled  in  the  throne  as  King 
of  heaven,  then  this  fun  rofe  in  heaven,  even  the  Lamb  that  is 
t-he  light  of  the  new  Jerufalem.  But  the  light  began  to  dawn 
immediately  after  the  fall. 

II,  Prefently  upon  this  the  gofpelwas  firft  revealed  on  earth, 
in  thefe  words,  Gen.  iii.  15.  "  And  I  will  put  enmity  between 
thee  and  the  woman,  and  between  thy  feed  and  her  feed  :  It 
fhall  bruife  thy  head,  and  thou  fiialt  bruife  his  heel.'*  We  muft 
fuppofe,  that  God's  intention  of  redeeming  fallen  man  was  firft 
jignified  in  heaven,  before  it  was  fignified  on  earth,  becaufe  the 
bufinefs  of  the  angels  as  miniftering  fpirits  of  the  Mediator  re- 
quired it  ;  for  as  foon  as  ever  Chrift  had  taken  on  him  the 
work  of  a  mediator,  it  was  requihte  that  the  angels  fliould  be 
ready  immediately  to  be  fubfervient  to  him  in  that  office  :  So 
that  the  light  firft  dawned  in  heaven  ;  but  very  foon  after  the 
fame  was  fignified  on  earth.  In  thofe  words  of  God  there  was 
an  intimation  of  another  furety  to  be  appointed  for  man,  after 
the  firft  furety  had  failed.  This  was  the  firft  revelation  of  the 
covenant  of  grace  ;  this  was  the  firft  dawning  of  the  light  of 
the  gofpel  on  earth. 

This  lower  world  before  the  fall  enjoyed  noonday  light  ;  t'he 
light  of  the  knowledge  of  God,  the  light  of  his  glory,  and  the 
light  of  his  favour.  But  when  man  fell,  all  this  light  was  at 
orice  extinguiftied,  and  the  world  reduced  back  again  to  total 
darknefs  ;  a  worfe  darknefs  than  that  which  was  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world,  that  we  read  of.  Gen.  i.  2.  ««  And  the  earth 
was  without  form,  and  void,  and  darknefs  was  upon  the  face  of 
the  deep."  This  was  a  darknefs  a  thoufand  times  more  remed- 
ilefs  than  that.  Neither  men  nor  angels  could  find  out  any  way 
whereby  this  darknefs  might  be  fcattered.  This  darknefs  ap- 
peared in  its  blacknefs  then,  when  Adam  and  his  wife  faw  that 
they  were  naked,  and  fewcd  fig  leaves,  and  when  they  heard  the 
voice  of  the  Lord  God  walking  in  the  garden,  and  hid  them- 
felves  among  the  trees  of  the  garden  ;  and  when  God  firft  called 
ihem  to  an  account,  and  faid  to  Adam,  i  "  What  is  this  that  thou 
haft  done  ? — ^  Haft  thou  eaten  of  the  tree,  whereof  I  com- 
manded thee,  that  thou  fhouldeft  not  cat  ?'*  Then  we  may  fup- 
pofe that  their  hearts  were  filled  with  ftiame  and  terror.  But 
thefe  words  of  God,  Gen.  iii.  15.  were  the  firft  dawning  of  the 
light  of  the  gofpel  after  this  darknefs.     Now  firft  appeared  forne 

glimmering 


/■ 


3® 


HISTORY    OF  THE  Period  I. 


glimmering  of  light*  after  this  difmal  darknefs,  which  before 
this  was  without  one  glimpfe  of  light,  any  beam  of  comfort,  or 
any  the  ieaft  hope.  It  was  an  obfcure  revelation  of  the  gofpel  ; 
and  was  not  made  tq  /idam  or  Eve  diredly,  but  it  was  in  what 
God  faid  to  the  ferpent.  But  yet  it  was  very  comprehenfive, 
as  might  be  eafily  ihown,  would  it  not  take  up  too  much  time. 

Here  was  a  certain  intimation  of  a  merciful  defign  by  <'  the 
feed  of  the  woman,"  which  was  like  the  firft  glimmerings  of 
the  light  of  the  fun  in  the  eafl  when  the  day  firft  dawns.  This 
intimation  of  mercy  was  given  them  even  before  fentence  was 
pronounced  on  either  Adam  or  Eve,  from  tendernefs  to  them, 
to  whom  God  defigned  mercy,  left  ,tl\ey  ihould  be  over- 
borne with  a  fentence  of  condemnation,  without  h.^ying  any 
thing  held  forth  whence  they  could  gathe,r  any  hope. 

One  of  thofe  great  things  that  were  intended  to  be  done  by 
the  work  of  redemption,  is  more  plainly  intimate,d  here  than  the 
reft,  viz.  God's  fubduing  his  enemies  under  the  feet  of  his  Son, 
This  was  threatened  now,  and  God's  defign  of  this  Was  now 
£rft  declared,  which  was  the  work  Chrift  had  now  undertaken, 
and  which  he  foon  began,  and  carried  on  thenceforward,  and 
will  perfe6lly  accomplifh  at  the  end  of  the  world.  S^tan  probr 
ably  had  triumphed  greatly  in  the  fall  of  man,  as  though  he 
had  defeated  the  defigns  of  God  in  the  creation  of  man  and  the 
world  in  general.  But  in  thefe  words  God  gives  him  a  plain 
intimation,  that  he  fhould  not  finally  triumph,  but  that  a  com- 
plete viftory  and  triumph  fhould  be  obtained  over  him  by  the 
iced  of  the  woman. 

This  revelation  of  the  gofpel  in  this  verfe  was  the  firft  thing 
that  Chrift  did  in  his  prophetical  office.  You  may  remember, 
that  it  was  faid  in  the  firft  of  thofe  three  propofitions  that  have 
been  mentioned,  that  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of 
Chrift,  God  was  doing  thofe  things  that  were  preparatory  to 
Chrift's  coming  and  working  out  redemption,  and  were  forerun- 
ners and  earnefts  of  it.  And  one  of  thofe  things  which  God 
did  in  this  time  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming  into  the 
world,  was  to  foretel  and  promife  it,  as  he  did  from  time  to 
time,  from  age  to  age,  until  Chrift  came.  This  was  the  firft 
promife  that  ever  was  given  of  it,  the  firft  prediftion  that  ever 
was  made  of  it  on  earth. 

III.  Socn  after  this,  the  cuftom  of  facrificing  was  appointed, 
to  be  a  ftcady  type  of  the  facrifice  of  Chrift  until  he  fhould  comc^ 

and 


Parti.        WO  R  K    OF    RED  EMP  TIO  N.  st 

and  offer  up  himfelf  a  facrifice  to  God.  Sacrificing  was  not  a 
cuftom  firft  eflabliflied  by  the  Levitical  law  of  Mofes ;  for  it 
had  been  a  part  of  God's  inftituted  worfhip  long  before,  even 
from  the  beginning  of  God's  vifible  church  on  earth.  We  read 
of  the  patriarchs,  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  offering  facrifice, 
and  before  them  Noah,  and  before  him  Abel,  And  this  was  by 
divine  appointment  ;  for  it  was  a  part  of  God's  worlhip  in  his 
church,  that  was  offered  up  in  faith,  and  that  he  accepted : 
Which  proves  that  it  was  by  his  inftitution  ;  for  facrificing  is 
no  part  of  natural  worfhip.  The  light  of  nature  doth  not  teach 
men  to  offer  up  beads  in  facrifice  to  God ;  and  feeing  it  was 
not  enjoined  by  the  law  of  nature,  if  it  was  acceptable  to  God, 
it  muff  be  by  fome  pofitive  command  or  inftitution  ;  for  God 
has  declared  his  abhorrence  of  fuch  worfhip  as  is  taught  by  the 
precept  of  men  without  his  inftitution  ;  If.  xxix.  13.  "  Where- 
fore the  Lord  faid,  Forafmuch  as  this  people  draw  near  me  with 
their  mouth,  and  with  their  lips  do  honour  me,  but  have  re- 
moved their  heart  far  from  me,  and  their  fear  towards  me  is 
taught  by  the  precept  of  men ;  therefore  behold,  I  will  pro- 
ceed to  do  a  marvellous  work,"  &c.  And  fuch  worfhip  as  hath 
not  a  warrant  from  divine  inftitution,  cannot  be  offered  up  in 
faith,  becaufe  faith  has  no  foundation  where  there  is  no  divine 
appointment.  It  cannot  be  offered  up  in  faith  of  God's  accept- 
ance ;  for  men  have  no  warrant  to  hope  for  God's  acceptance, 
in  that  which  is  not  of  his  appointment,  and  in  that  to  which 
he  hath  not  promlfed  his  acceptance ;  And  therefore  it  follows, 
that  the  cuftom  of  offering  facrifices  to  God  was  inftituted  foon 
after  the  fall ;  for  the  fcripturc  teaches  us,  that  Abel  offered 
«  the  firftlings  of  his  flock,  and  of  the  fat  thereof,"  Gen.  iv.  4,* 
and  that  he  was  accepted  of  God  in  this  offering,  Heb.  xi.  4, 
And  there  is  nothing  in  the  ftory  that  looks  as  though  the  infti- 
tution was  firft  given  then  when  Abel  offered  up  that  facrifice 
to  God ;  but  it  appears  as  though  Abel  only  therein  complied 
with  a  cuftom  already  eftablifhed. 

And  it  is  very  probable  that  it  was  inftituted  immediately  af- 
ter God  had  revealed  the  covenant  of  grace,  in  Gen.  iii.  15* 
which  covenant  and  promife  was  the  foundation  on  which  the 
cuftom  of  facrificing  was  built.  That  promife  was  the  firft  ftone 
that  was  laid  towards  this  glorious  building,  the  work  of  re- 
demption,  which  will  be  finifhcd  at  the  end  of  the  world. 

And 


$t  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  TfHiS  Period  I. 

And  the  next  ftone  which  was  laid  up6n  that,  was  the  inftitu- 
tion  of  facrifices,  to  be  a  type  of  the  great  facrifice. 

The  next  thing  that  we  have  an  account  of  after  God  had 
pronounced  fentence  on  the  fcrpent,  on  the  woman,  and  on  th^ 
man,  was,  that  God  made  them  coats  of  fkins,  and  clothed  them; 
which,  by  the  generality  of  divines,  are  thought  to  be  the  fkins 
of  beafts  flain  in  facrifice  ;  for  we  have  no  account  of  any  thing- 
clfe  that  fhould  be  the  occafion  of  man's  flaying  beafts,  but  only 
to  offer  them  in  facrifice,  until  after  the  flood.  Men  wer^ 
not  wont  to  eat  the  flefh  of  beafts  as  their  common  food  until 
after  the  flood*  The  firft  food  of  man  in  paradife  before  the 
fall  was  the  fruit  of  the  trees  of  pairadife  ;  and  when  he  was 
turned  out  of  paradife  after  the  fall,  then  his  food  was  the  herb 
of  the  field  :  Gen.  iii.  18.  "  And  thou  ftialt  eat  of  the  herb  of 
the  field.'*  The  firft  grant  that  he  had  to  eat  flefh  as  his  com- 
mon food  was  after  the  flood  ;  Gen.  ix.  3.  "  Every  moving 
thing  that  liveth  fhall  be  meat  for  you ;  even  as  the  green  herb 
liave  I  given  you  all  things."  So  that  it  is  likely  that  thefe 
ikins  that  Adam  and  Eve  were  clothed  with,  were  the  fl^ins  of 
their  facrifices,  God's  clothing  them  with  thefe  was  a  lively 
iigure  of  their  being  clothed  with  the  righteoufnefs  of  Chrift, 
This  clothing  was  no  clothing  of  their  own  obtaining  ;  but  it 
was  God  that  gave  it  them.  It  is  faid,  "  God  made  them  coats 
of  fkins,  and  clothed  them ;"  as  the  righteoufnefs  our  naked 
fouls  are  clothed  with,  is  not  our  righteoufnefs,  but  the  right- 
eoufnefs which  is  of  God.     It  is  he  only  clothes  the  naked  foul. 

Our  firft  parents,  who  were  nake  d,  were  clothed  at  the  ex- 
penfe  of  life.  Beafts  were  flain,  and  refigned  up  their  lives  a 
facrifice  to  God,  to  afford  clothing  to  them  to  cover  their  naked- 
nefs.  So  doth  Chrift,  to  afi^ord  clothing  to  our  naked  fouls. 
The  flcin  fignifies  the  life  ;  So,  Job  ii.  4.  "  Skin  for  flcin,  yea 
all  that  a  man  hath  will  he  give  for  his  life  ;"  i.  e.  life  for  lift. 
Thus  our  firft  parents  were  covered  with  fkins  of  facrifices,  as 
the  tabernacle  in  the  wildernefs,  which  fignified  the  church, 
was,  when  it  was  covered  with  rams'  fkins  died  red,  as  though 
they  were  dipped  in  blood,  to  fignify  that  Chrift's  righteoufnefe 
was  wrought  out  through  the  pains  of  death,  under  which  he 
ihed  his  precious  blood. 

We  obferved  before,  that  the  light  that  the  church  enjoyed 
from  the  fall  of  man,  until  Chrift  came,  was  like  the  light  which 
w«  enjoy  in  the  night  ;  not  the  light  of  the  fun  direftly,  but  as 

refle£lcd 


p5rtL         WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  33 

refleded  from  the  mbon  and  ftars  ;  which  light  did  forcfhow 
Chrifl  the  Sun  of  righteoufnels  that  was  afterwards  to  arife. 
This  light  of  the  Sun  of  righteoufnefs  to  come  they  had  chiefly 
two  ways  :  One  was  by  predictions  of  Chrifl  to  come,  whereby 
his  coming  was  foretold  and  promifed ;  the  other  was  by  types 
and  fliadows,  whereby  his  coming  and  redemption  were  prefig- 
ured. The  firfl  thing  that  was  done  to  prepare  the  way  for 
Ghrifl  in  the  former  of  thefe  ways,  was  in  that  promife  that 
was  jufl  taken  notice  of  in  the  foregoing  particular ;  and  the 
firfl  thing  of  the  latter  kind,  viz.  of  types,  to  forclliow  Chrifl's 
coming,  was  that  inflitution  of  facrifices  that  we  arc  now  upon. 
As  that  promife  in  Gen.  iii.  15.  w^as  the  firfl  dawn  of  gofpel 
light  afier  the  fall  in  prophecy ;  fo  the  inflitution  of  facrifices 
was  the  firfl  hint  of  it  in  types.  The  giving  of  that  promife 
was  the  firfl  thing  that  was  done  after  the  fall,  in  this  work,  in 
Chrifl's  prophetical  office  ;  the  inflitution  of  facrifices  was  the 
firfl  thing  that  we  read  of  after  the  fall,  by  which  efpecially 
Chrifl  exhibited  himfelf  in  his  prieflly  office. 

The  inflitution  of  facrifices  was  a  great  thing  done  towards 
preparing  the  way  for  Chrifl's  coming,  and  working  out  re- 
demption. For  the  facrifices  of  the  Old  Tcflament  were  the 
main  of  all  the  Old  Teflament  types  of  Chrifl  and  his  redemp- 
tion ;  and  it  tended  to  eflabliih  in  the  minds  of  God's  vifible 
church  the  necefTity  of  a  propitiatory  facrifice,  in  order  to  the 
Deity's  being  fatisfied  for  fin  ;  and  fo  prepared  the  way  for 
the  reception  of  the  glorious  gofpel,  that  reveals  the  great  facri- 
fice in  the  vifible  church,  and  not  only  fo,  but  through  the 
world  of  mankind.  For  from  this  inflitution  of  facrifices  that 
was  after  the  fall,  all  nations  derived  the  cuflom  of  facrificing. 
For  this  cuflom  of  offering  up  facrifices  to  the  gods,  to  atone  for 
their  fins,  was  common  to  all  nations.  No  nation,  however 
barbarous,  w^as  found  without  it  any  where.  This  is  a  great 
evidence  of  the  truth  of  the  Chriflian  religion  •,  for  no  nation, 
but  only  the  Jews,  could  tell  how  they  came  by  this  cuflom,  or 
to  what  purpofe  it  was  to  ofFcr  facaificcs  to  their  deities.  The 
light^of  nature  did  not  teach  them  any  fuch  thing.  That  did 
not  teach  them  that  the  gods  were  hungry,  and  fed  upon  the 
flefh  which  they  burnt  in  facrifice  ;  and  yet  they  all  had  this 
cuflom  ;  of  which  no  other  account  can  be  given,  but  that  they 
derived  it  from  Noah,  who  had  it  from  his  anccflors,  on  whom 
God  iiad  'enjoined  it  as  a  type  of  the  gteat  facrifice  of  Chrifl, 
D  However, 


34  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    o?  the  Period  I. 

However,  by  this  means  all  nations  of  the  world  had  their 
minds  pofleflcd  with  this  notion,  that  an  atonement  or  facrifice 
for  fin  was  necefTary  ;  and  a  way  was  made  for  their  more  read- 
ily receiving  the  great  doftrine  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrifl,  which 
teaches  us  the  atonement  and  facrifice  of  Chrifl. 

IV.  God  did  foon  after  the  fall  begin  aftually  to  fave  the 
fouls  of  men  through  Chrift's  redemption.  In  this  Chrift,  who 
had  lately  taken  upon  him  the  work  of  Mediator  between  God 
and  man,  did  firft  begip  that  work,  wherein  he  appeared  iathe 
cxercife  of  his  kingly  ofEcc,  as  in  the  facrifices  he  was  reprefent* 
ed  in  his  pricdly  office,  and  in  the  firft  prediftion  of  redemp* 
tion  by  Chrifl:  he  had  appeared  in  the  exercife  of  his  propheti- 
cal office.  In  that  prediftion  the  light  of  Chrift's  redemption 
firft  began  to  dawn  in  the  prophecies  of  it ;  in  the  inftitution 
of  facrifices  it  firft  began  to  dawn  in  the  types  of  it ;  in  this, 
viz.  his  beginning  adually  to  fave  men,  it  firft  began  to  dawn 
in  the  fruit  of  it. 

It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  Adam  and  Eve  were  the  firfl 
fruits  of  Chjfifl's  redemption ;  it  is  probable  by  God's  manner 
of  treating  them,  by  his  comforting  them  as  he  did,  after  their 
awakenings  and  terrors.  They  were  awakened,  and  afhamed 
with  a  fenfe  of  their  guilt,  after  their  fall",  when  their  eyes  were 
opened,  and  they  faw  that  they  were  naked,  and  fewed  fig  leaves 
to  cover  their  nakednefs;  as  the  fmner,  under  the  firft  awaken- 
ings, is  wont  to  endeavour  to  hide  the  nakednefs  of  his  foul, 
by  patching  up  a  righteoufnefs  of  his  own.  Then  they  were 
further  terrified  and  awakened,  by  hearing  the  voice  of  God, 
as  he  was  coming  to  condemn  them.  Their  coverings  of  fig 
leaves  do  not  anfwer  the  purpofe ;  but  notwithitanding  thefe, 
they  ran  to  hide  themfelves  among  the  trees  of  the  garden,  be- 
caufe  they  were  naked,  not  daring  to  truft  to  their  fig  leaves  to 
hide  their  nakednefs  from  God.  Then  they  were  further  awak- 
ened by  God's  calling  of  them  to  a  ftri6t  account.  But  while  their 
terrors  were  raifed  to  fuch  a  height,  and  they  ftood,  as  we  may 
fuppofe,  trembling  and  aftonifhed  before  their  judge,  without 
any  thing  to  catch  hold  of  whence  they  could  gather  any  hope, 
then  God  took  care  to  hold  forth  fome  encouragement  to  them, 
to  keep  them  from  the  dreadful  effects  of  defpair  under  their 
awakenings,  by  giving  a  hint  of  a  defign  of  mercy  by  a  Savi- 
our, even  before  he  pronounced  fentence  again  ft  them.  And 
when  after  this  he  proceeded  to  pronounce  fentence,  whereby 

wc 


Parti.        WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  35 

we  may  fuppofe  their  terrors  were  further  raifed,  God  foon  af- 
ter took  care  to  encourage  them,  and  to  let  them  fee,  that  he 
had  not  wholly  caft  them  ofF,  by  taking  a  fatherly  care  of  them 
in  their  fallen,  naked,  and  miferable  flate,  by  making  them  coats 
of  fkins  and  clothing  them.  Which  alfo  manifefted  fin  accept- 
ance of  thofe  facrifices  that  they  offered  to  God  for  fin,  that 
thofe  were  the  fkins  of,  which  were  types  of  what  God  had 
promifed,  when  he  faid,  '<  The  feed  of  the  woman  (liall  bruifc 
the  ferpent's  head:"  Which  promife,  there  is  reafon  to  think, 
they  believed  and  embraced.  Eve  feems  plainly  to  exprefs  her 
hope  in  and  dependence  on  that  promife,  in  what  {he  fays  at 
the  birth  of  Cain,  Gen.  iv.  1.  "  I  have  gotten  a  man  from  the 
Lord  ;'*  i.  e.  as  God  has  promifed,  that  my  feed  fhould  bruifc 
the  fcrpent's  head ;  fo  now  has  God  given  me  this  pledge  and 
token  of  it,  that  I  have  a  feed  born.  She  plainly  owns,  that 
this  her  child  was  from  God,  and  hoped  that  her  promifed  feed 
was  to  be  of  this  her  eldefl  fon  ;  though  fhe  was  miftaken,  as 
Abraham  was  with  refpeft  to  IJJimady  as  j^ij^  was  with  refpe^lto  '■Jj-0^^^-^ 
Efauy  and  as  Samuel  was  with  refped;  to  the  firfl  born  of  Jefi^ 
And  efpecially  does  what  fhe  faid  at  the  birth  of  ^.Seth  exprefs 
her  hope  and  dependence  on  the  promife  of  God;  fee  ver.  25. 
•'  For  God  hath  appointed  me  another  feed,  inflead  of  Abel, 
whomi  Cain  flew." 

Thus  it  is  exceeding  probable,  if  not  evident,  that  as  Chrlll 
took  on  him  the  work  of  Mediator  as  foon  as  man  fell ;  fo  that 
he  now  immediately  began  his  work  of  redemption  in  its  effeft, 
and  that  he  immediately  encountered  his  great  enemy  the  devil, 
whom  he  had  undertaken  to  conquer,  and  refcued  thofe  two 
firft  captives  out  of  his  hands ;  therein  baffling  him,  foon  after 
his  triumph  for  the  viflory  he  had  obtained  over  them,  where- 
by he  had  made  them  his  captives.  And  though  he  was,  as  it 
were,  fure  of  them  and  all  their  pofterity,  Chiifl  the  Redeemer 
foon  fhowed  him,  that  he  was  miftaken,  and  that  he  was  able  to 
fubdue  him,  and  deliver  fallen  man.  He  let  him  fee  it,  in  de- 
livering thofe  firft  captives  of  his  ;  and  fo  foon  gave  him  an  in- 
ftance  of  the  fulfilment  of  that  threatening,  "  The  feed  of  the 
woman  fhall  bruife  the  ferpent's  head  ;"  and  in  this  inftancc  a 
prefage  of  the  fulfilment  of  one  great  thing  he  had  undertaken, 
viz.  his  fubduing  all  his  enemies  under  his  feet. 

After  this  we  have  another  inftance  of  redemption  in  one  of 
their  children,  viz.  in  righteous  Abel,  as  the  fcripturc  calls  him, 
whofe  foul  perhaps  was  the  firft  that  went  to  heaven  through 

Chrift's 


36  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  I. 

Ch rift's  redemption.  In  him  we  have  at  lead  the  firft  inftance 
of  the  death  of  a  redeemed  perfon  that  is  recorded  in  fcriplure. 
If  he  was  the  firfl,  then  as  the  redemption  of  Chrift  began  to 
dawn  before  in  the  fouls  of  men  in  their  converfion  and  juftifi- 
cation,  in  him  it  firft  began  to  dawn  in  glorification  ;  and  in 
him  the  angels  began  firft  to  do  the  part  of  miniilering  fpirits 
to  Chrift,  in  going  forth  to  conduft  the  fouls  of  the  redeemed 
to  glory.  And  in  him  the  ele£l  angels  in  heaven  had  the  firft 
opportunity  to  fee  fo  wonderful  a  thing  as  the  foul  of  one  of 
the  fallen  race  of  mankind,  that  had  been  funk  by  the  fall  into 
fuch  an  abyfs  of  fin  and  mifery,  brought  to  heaven,  and  in  the 
enjoyment  of  heavenly  glory,  which  was  a  much  greater  thing 
than  if  they  had  feen  him  returned  to  the  earthly  paradife. 
Thus  they  by  this  faw  the  glorious  effed  of  Chrifl's  redemp- 
tion, in  the  great  honour  and  happinefs  that  was  procured  for 
fmful  miferable  creatures  by  it. 

V.  The  next  remarkable  thing  that  God  did  in  the  farther 
carrying  on  of  this  great  affair  of  redemption,  that  I  fhall  take 
notice  of,  was  the  firft  remarkable  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit 
through  Chrift  that  ever  was,  which  was  in  the  days  of  Enos* 
ThisJeems  to  have  been  the  next  remarkable  thing  that  j  was 
done  toward  creeling  this  glorious  building  that  God  had  begun 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  in  Chrift  the  Mediator.  We  read. 
Gen.  iv,  26.  "  Then  began  men  to  call  upon  the  name  of  the 
Lord.'-  The  meaning  of  thefe  words  has  been  confiderably 
controverted  among  divines.  We  cannot  fuppofe  the  meaning 
is,  that  that  time  was  the  firft  that  ever  men  performed  the  duty 
of  prayer.  Prayer  is  a  duty  of  natural  religion,  and  a  duty  to 
which  a  fpirit  of  piety  does  moft  naturally  lead  men.  Prayer 
is  as  it  were  the  very  breath  of  a  fpirit  of  piety  ;  and  we  can- 
rjot  fuppofe  therefore,  that  thofe  holy  men  that  had  been  before 
for  above  two  hundred  years,  had  lived  all  that  while  without 
any  prayer.  Therefore  fonie  divines  think,  that  the  meaning 
is,  that  then  men  firfl  began  to  perform  publick  worfhip,  or  to 
call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  in  publick  affcmblics.  Wheth- 
er it  be  fo  to  be  underftood  or  no,  yet  fo  much  mufl  neceffari- 
ly  be  underftood  by  it,  viz.  that  there  was  fomething  new  in 
the  vifible  church  of  God  with  refped  to  the  duty  of  prayer, 
or  calling  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord  ;  that  there  was  a  great 
addition  to  the  performance  of  this  duty  ;  and  that  in  fome  re- 
fpeft  or  other  it  was  carried  far  beyorid  .what  it  ever  had  been 

befor<;j, 


Fart  I.        \V  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  i  O  N.  37 

.before,  which  muft   be  the  confequence  of  a  remarkable  pour- 
ing out  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 

If  it  was  now  firii  that  men  were  ftirred  up  to  get  together 
in  affcmblies  to  help  and  aflifl  one  another  in  feekin«r  God.  fo 
as  they  never  had  done  before,  it  argues  fomething  extraordi- 
.nary  as  the  caufe  ;  and  could  be  from  nothing  but  uncommon 
influences  of  God's  Spirit.  We  fee  by  experience,  that  a  re- 
jiiarkable  pouring  out  of  God's  Spirit  is  always  attended  with 
fuch  aneffeft,  viz.  a  great  increafe  of  the  performance  of  the 
duty  of  prayer.  When  the  Spirit  orf  God  begins  a  work  on 
j^rien's  hearts,  it  immediately  fets  them  to  calling  on  the  name  of 
the  Lord.  As  it  was  with  Paul  after  the  Spirit  of  God  had 
laid  hold  of  him,  then  the  next  news  is,  "  Behold,  he  prayeth  ]" 
fo  it  has  been  in  .a.11  remarkable  pourings  out  of  the  Spirit  of 
,God  that  we  have  any  particular  account  of  in  fcripture  ;  and 
ib  it  is  foretold  it  will  be  at  the  great  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  in  the  latter  days.  It  is  foretold,  that  it  will  be  poured 
out  as  a  fpirit  of  grace  and  fupplication,  Zech.  xii.  10.  Sec 
alfo  Zeph.  iii.  9.  "  P'or  then  will  I  turn  to  the  people  a  pure 
language,  that  th/iy  may  all  .call  ypjoii  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to 
ferve  him  with  o.ije  confent.'' 

And  when  it  is  faid,  "  Then  !jegan  men  to  call  upon  the  name 
of  the  Lord,''  no  more  can  be  intended  by  it,  than  that  this  was 
the  firft  remarkable  feafon  of  this  nature  that  ever  was.  It  was 
the  beginning,  or  the  firft,  of  fuph  a  kind  of  work  of  God,  fuch 
a'pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  After  fuch  a  manner  fuch 
an  expreflion  is  commonly  ufed  in  fcripture  ;  So,  1  Sam.  xiv. 
35.  "  And  iiaul  builj  an  altar  unto  the  Lord  ;  the  fame  was  the 
tirll  altar  that  he  built  unto  the  Lord."  In  the  Hebrew  it  is, 
as  you  may  fee  in  the  margin,  '•  that  altar  he  began  to  build  un- 
to, tap  Lord.'.'  Heb.  ii.  3.  "  ^  liow  fhall  we  efcape  if  we  neg- 
icQ.  fa  greiit  falvation,  which  firft  began  to  be  fpoken  by 
the  Lord  ?'? 

It  may  here  beobferved,  that  from  the  fall  of  man,  to  this  day 
wherein  we  live,  the  work  of  redemption  in  its  cffeft  has. main- 
ly been  carried  on  by  remarkable  pourings  out  of  the  Spirit  of 
Tjod.  Though  there  be  a  more  conflant  influence  of  God's 
Spirit  always  in  fome  degree  attending  his  ordinances  ;  yet  the 
way  in  which  the  grea.teft  things  have  been  done  towards  carry- 
ing on  this  work,  always  has  been  by  remarkable  pourings  out  of 
ihe  Spirit  at  fpecial  feafons  of  mercy,  as  may  fully  appear  here- 
after 


gS  aHISTORYof  the  Period  !• 

after  in  our  further  profecution  of  the  fubjcft  we  are  upon. 
And  this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  in  the  days  of  EnoSf  was  the 
firfl  remarkable  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that  ever  was. 
There  had  been  a  faving  work  of  God  on  the  hearts  of  fome 
before  ;  but  now  God  was  pleafed  to  grant  a  more  large  effufion 
of  his  Spirit,  for  the  bringing  in  an  harveft  of  fouls  to  Chrift  ; 
fo  that  in  this  we  fee  that  great  building  that  is  the  fubjeft  of  our 
prefent  difcourfc,  which  God  laid  the  foundation  of  immediate- 
ly after  the  fall  of  man,  carried  on  further,  and  built  higher,  than 
ever  it  had  been  before. 

VI.  The  next  thing  I  fhall  take  notice  of,  is  the  eminently 
holy  life  of  Enochs  who  we  have  reafon  to  think  was  a  faint  of 
greater  eminency  than  any  ever  had  been  before  him  ;  fo  that 
in  this  refpeft  the  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  to  a  great- 
er height  than  ever  it  had  been  before.  With  refpeft  to  its  ef- 
fe6t  in  the  vifible  church  in  general,  we  obferved  juft.  now  how 
it  was  carried  higher  in  the  days  of  Enos  than  ever  it  had  been 
before.  Probably  Enoch  was  one  of  the  faints  of  that  harveft  ; 
for  he  lived  all  the  days  that  he  did  live  on  earth,  in  the  days 
of  Enos^  And  with  refpeft  to  the  degree  to  which  this  work 
was  carried  in  the  foul  of  a  particular  perfon,  it  was  raifed  to  a 
greater  height  in  Enoch  than  ever  before.  His  foul,  as  it  was 
built  on  Chrift,  was  built  up  in  hohnefs  to  a  greater  height  than 
there  had  been  any  inftance  of  before.  He  was  a  wonderful 
inftance  of  Chrift's  redemption,  and  the  efficacy  of  his  grace. 

VII.  In  Enoch's  time,  God  did  more  exprefsly  reveal  the  com- 
ing of  Chrift  than  he  had  done  before,  in  the  prophecy  of  Enoch 
that  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  14th  and  15th  verfes  of  the 
epiftle  of  Jude  :  "  And  Enoch  alfo,  the  feventh  from  Adam, 
prophefied  of  thefe,  faying,  Behold,  the  Lord  cometh  with  ten 
thoufand  of  his  faints,  to  execute  judgment  upon  all,  and  to  con- 
vince all  that  are  ungodly  among  them,  of  their  ungodly   deeds 
which  they  have  ungodly  committed,    and   of   all   their  hard 
fpeeches  which   ungodly  fmners   have    fpoken    againft   him.'* 
Here  Enoch  prophehes  of  the  coming  of  Chrift.     It  does  not 
feem  to  be  confined  to  any  particular  coming  of  Chrift  ;  but  it 
has  refpe6t  in  general  to  Chrift's  coming  in  his  kingdom,  and  is 
fulfilled  in  a  degree  in   both   the   firft  and  fecond  coming  of 
Chrift  ;  and  indeed   in  every  remarkable  manifeftation  Chrift 
has  made  of  himfelf  in  the  world,  for  the  faving  of  his  people, 
and  the  deftroying  of  his  enemies.     It  is  very  parallel  in  this 

refoeft 


Parti.        WO  R  K    OF    R  E  D  EM  P  TI  O  N.  39 

refpeft  with  many  other  prophecies  of  the  coming  of  Chrift, 
that  were  given  under  the  Old  Teftament  ;  and,  in  particular, 
it  feems  to  be  parallel  with  that  great  prophecy  of  Chrifl's  com- 
ing in  his  kingdom  that  we  have  in  the  7th  chapter  of  Daniel, 
whence  the  Jews  principally  took  their  notion  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven.  See  ver,  10.  '*  A  fiery  dream  iffued,  and  came  forth 
from  before  him  :  Thoufand  thoufands  miniflered  unto  him, 
and  ten  thoufand  times  ten  thoufand  flood  before  him  ;  The 
judgment  was  fet,  and  the  books  were  opened."  And  ver.  13, 
14.  "  I  faw  in  the  night  vifions,  and  behold,  one  like  the  Son 
of  Man,  came  with  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  came  to  the  An- 
cient of  Days,  and  they  brought  him  near  before  him.  And 
there  was  given  him  dominion,  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom,  that 
all  people,  nations,  and  languages,  fhould  ferve  him  :  His  do- 
minion is  an  everlafting  dominion,  which  fhall  not  pafs  away, 
and  his  kingdom  that  which  (hall  not  be  deflroyed."  And 
though  it  is  not  unlikely  that  Enoch  might  have  a  more  imme- 
diate refpeft  in  this  prophecy  to  the  approaching  deftruftion  of 
the  old  world  by  the  flood,  which  was  a  remarkable  refemblance 
of  Chrift's  deftruftion  of  all  his  enemies  at  his  fecond  coming, 
yet  it  doubtlefs  looked  beyond  the  type  to  the  antitype. 

And  as  this  prophecy  of  Chrift's  coming  is  more  exprefs  than 
any  had  been  before  ;  fo  it  is  an  infhance  of  the  increafe  of  that 
gofpel  light  that  began  to  dawn  prefently  after  the  fall  of  man  ; 
and  is  an  inftance  of  that  building  that  is  the  fubjeft  of  our 
prefent  difcourfe,  being  yet  further  carried  on,  and  built  up 
higher  than  ever  it  had  been  before. 

And  here,  by  the  way,  I  would  obfer\x,  that  the  increafe  of 
gofpel  light,  and  the  carrying  on  the  work  of  redemption,  as  it 
refpe6ls  the  eleft  church  in  general,  from  the  firfl  erefting  of 
the  church  to  the  end  of  the  world,  is  very  much  after  the  fame 
manner  as  the  carrying  on  of  the  fame  work  and  the  fame  light 
in  a  particular  foul,  from  the  time  of  its  converfion,  until  it  is 
perfefted  and  crowned  in  glory.  The  work  in  a  particular  foul 
has  its  ups  and  downs  ;  fometimes  the  light  fhines  brighter,  and 
fometimes  it  is  a  dark  time  ;  fometimes  grace  feems  to  prevail, 
at  other  times  it  feems  to  langaifh  for  a  great  while  together, 
and  corruption  prevails,  and  then  grace  revives  again.  But  in 
general,  grace  is  growing  :  From  its  firft  infufion,  until  it  is 
perfefted  in  glory^  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  building  up  in 
ihs  foul. 

So 


40  A    II  I  5  T  O  R  Y    Of  iHB  Period  I. 

So  it  Is  with  rcfpeft  to  the.  great  affair  in  general,  as  it  relates 
to  the  univerfal  fubjeft  of  it,  as  it  is  carried  on  from  the  firft 
beginning  of  it,  after  the  fall,  until  it  is  perfected  at  the  end  of 
the  world,  as  will  more  fully  appear  by  a  particular  view  of  this 
affair  from  beginning  to  end,  in  the  profecution  of  this  fubjeft, 
if  God  give  opportunity  to  carry  it  through  as  I  propofe. 

VIII.  The  next  remarkable  thing  towards  carrying  on  this 
work,  that  we  have  an  account  of  in  fcripture,  is,  the  tranflation 
of  Enoch  into  heaven.  The  account  we  have  of  it  is  in  Gen, 
V.  24,  "  And  Enoch  walked  with  God,  and  he  was  not  ;  for 
God  took  him."  Here  Mofes,  in  giving  an  account  of  the  gen- 
ealogy of  thofe  that  were  of  the  line  of  Noah,  does  not  fay  con- 
cerning  Enoch,  he  lived  fo  long  and  he  died,  as  he  does  of  the 
refl  ;  but,  he  zjas  not,  for  God  took  him  ;  i.  e.  he  tranflatcd  him  ;  ir^ 
body  and  foul  carried  him  to  heaven  without  dying,  as  it  is  ex- 
plained in  Heb.  xi.  5.  *'  By  faith  Enoch  was  tranflated  that  he 
fliould  not  fee  death,"  By  this  wonderful  work  of  God,  the 
work  of  redemption  was  carried  to  a  greater  height  in  feveral 
refpefts,  than  it  had  been  before. 

You  may  remember,  that  when  I  was  fhowing  what  were  the 
great  things  that  God  aimed  at  in  the  work  of  redemption,  or 
what  the  main  things  were  that  he  intended  to  bring  to  pafs  ;  I 
among  other  things  mentioned  (p.  21.)  the  perfeft  reftoring  the 
ruins  of  the  fall  with  refpeft  to  the  eleft,  and  reftoring  man 
from  that  deflruSlion  that  he  had'*»brought  on  himfelf,  both  in 
foul  and  body.  Now  this  tranflation  of  Enoch  was  tlie  firft:  in- 
flance  that  ever  was  of  reftorinjT  the  ruins  of  the  fall  with  re- 

o 

fpeft  to  the  body.  There  had  been  many  inftances  of  reftoring 
the  foul  of  man  by  Chrift's  redemption,  but  none  of  redeeming 
and  actually  favirvg  the  body  until  now.  All  the  bodies  of  the 
elefl  are  to  be  faved  as  well  as  their  fouls.  At  the  end  of  the 
world,  all  the  bodies  of  the  faints  fliall  actually  be  redeemed  ; 
tliol'e  th^  then  fliall  have  been  dead,  by  a  refurreftion  ;  and 
others,  that  then  fhall  be  living,  by  caufmg  them  to  pafs  under  a 
glorious  change.  There  was  a  number  of  the  bodies  of  faints 
raifed  and  glorified,  at  the  rcfurreftion  and  afcenfion  of  Chrift  ; 
and  before  that  there  was  an  inftance  of  a  body  glorified  in 
Elijah,  But  the  firfl  inftance  of  all  was  this  of  Enoch,  that  we 
are  now  fp caking  of. 

And  the  work  of  redemption  by  this  was  carried  on  further 
than  ever  it  had  been  before  ;  as,   by  this  wonderful  work   of 

God. 


Pirt  I.  W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  41 

God,  there  was  a  great  increafe  of  gofpel  light  to  the  church  of 
God,  in  this  refpeft,  that  hereby  the  church  had  a  clearer  man- 
ifeftation  of  a  future  ftate,  and  of  the  glorious  reward  of  the 
faints  in  heaven.  We  are  told,  2  Tim.  i.  10,  "  That  life  and 
immortality  are  brought  to  light  by  the  gofpel."  And  the  more 
of  this  is  brought  to  light,  the  more  clearly  docs  the  light  fhine 
in  that  refpcft.  What  was  faid  in  the  Old  Teftament  of  a  fu- 
ture ftate,  is  very  obfcure,  in  comparifon  with  the  more  full, 
plain,  and  abundant  revelation  given  of  it  in  the  New.  But 
yet  even  in  thofe  early  days,  the  church  of  God,  in  this  in- 
flance,  was  favoured  with  an  inflanCeof  it  fet  before  their  eyes, 
in  that  one  of  their  brethren  was  a6lually  taken  up  to  heaven 
without  dying  ;  which  we  have  all  reafon  to  think  the  church 
of  God  knew  then,  as  they  "afterwards  knew  Elijah's  tranflation. 
And  as  this  was  a  clearer  manifeflation  of  a  future  ftate  than 
the  church  had  had  before,  fo  it  was  a  pledge  or  earneft  of  that 
future  glorification  of  all  the  faints  which  God  intended 
through  the  redemption  of  Jefus  Chrift. 

IX.  The  next  thing  that  I  fhall  obferve,  was  the  upholding 
the  church  of  God  in  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to  pro- 
ceed, in  the  time  of  that  great  and  general  defc6lion  of  the  world 
of  mankind  that  was.  before  the  flood.  The  church  of  God,  in 
all  probability,  was  fmall,  in  comparifon  with  the  reft  of  the 
world,  from  the  beginning  of  the  time  that  mankind  firft  began 
to  multiply  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  or  from  the  time  of  Cain's 
defeftion,  and  departing  from  among  the  people  of  God  ;  the 
time  we  read  of,  Gen.  iv.  16.  "  When  Cain  went  out  from  the 
prefence  of  the  Lord,  and  dwelt  in  the  land  of  Nod  ;"  which 
being  interpreted,  is  the  land  of  banifhment  :  I  fay,  from  this 
time  of  Cain's  departure  and  reparation  from  the  church  of  God, 
it  is  probable  that  the  church  of  God  was  fmall  in  comparifon 
with  the  reft  of  the  world.  The  church  feems  to  have  been 
kept  up  chiefly  in  the  pofterity  of  Sdk  ;  for  this  was  the  feed 
that  God  appointed  inftead  of  AM,  whom  Cai?i  flew.  But  we 
cannot  reafonably  fuppofe,  that  Seth's  pofterity  Vv-ere  one  fiftieth 
part  of  the  world  :  *«  For  Adam  Was  one  hund;  ed  and  thirty 
years  old  when  Seth  was  born."  But  Cain,  who  feems  to  have 
been  the  ringleader  of  thofc  that  were  not  of  the  church,  was 
Adam's  eldeft  child,  and  probably 'was  born  foon  after  the  fall, 
which  doubtlcfs  was  foon  after  Adarn's  creation  ;  fo  that  there 
was  time  for  Cain  to  have  many  fons  before  Seth  was  born,  and 
befidcs  many  other  children,   that  probably  Adam  and  Eve  had 

"E  before 


42  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    Tiit  Period  t 

before  this  time,  agreeably  to  God's  blefling  that  he  gave  them, 
when  he  faid,  *'  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  replenifh  the 
earth  :"  And  many  of  theie  children  might  have  children.  The 
llory  of  Cain  before  Seth  was  born,  feems  to  reprefent  as  though 
there  were  great  numbers  of  men  on  the  earth  :  Gen.  iv,  14,  15, 
««  Behold,  thou  haft  driven  me  out  this  day  from  the  face  of  the 
earth  ;  And  from  thy  fa.ce  fhall  I  be  hid,  and  I  fhall  be  a  fugi- 
tive and  a  vagabond  in  the  earth  ;  and  it  {hall  come  to  pafs^  that 
every  one  that  findeth  me  fhall  flay  me.  And  the  Lord  faid  un- 
to him,  Therefore  whpfocver  Ikyeth  Cain,  vengeance  fhall  be 
taken  on  him  feven  fold.  And  the  Lord  fet  a  mark  upon  Cainy 
left  any  finding  him  fhould  kill  him,''  And  all  thofe  that  were 
then  in  being  when  Setk  was  born,  muft  be  fuppofed  then  to 
ftand  in  equal  capacity  of  multiplying  their  pofterity  with  him  ; 
and  therefore,  as  I  faid  before,  Seth's  pofterity  were  but  a  fmali 
part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  vv'^orld. 

But  after  the  days  of  Enos  and  Enoch,  (for  Enoch  was  tranflated 
before  Enos  died  ;)  I  fay,  after  their  days,  the  church  of  God 
greatly  diminiftied,  in  proportion  as  multitudes  that  were  of  the 
line  of  Seth,  and  had  been  born  in  the  church  of  God,  fell  away, 
and  joined  with  the  wicked  world,  principally  by  means  of  in- 
termarriages with  them  ;  as  Gen.  vi.  1,  2.  &  4.  *'  And  it  came 
to  pafs,  when  men  began  to  multiply  on  the  face  of  the  earth, 
and  daughters  were  born  unto  them,  that  the  fons  of  God  faw 
the  daughters  of  men,  that  they  were  fair  ;  and  they  took  them 

wives  of   all  which   they  chofe. There  were  giants  in   the 

earth  in  thofe  days  ;  and  aUo  after  that,  when  the  fons  of  God 
camein  unto  the  daughters  of  men,  and  they  haxG  children  to 
them,  the  fame  became  mighty  men,  which  were  of  old  men  of 
renown."  By  the  fons  of  God  here,  arc  doubtlefs  meant  the 
children  of  the  church.  It  is  a  denomination  often  given  them 
in  fcripture.  They  intermarried  with  the  wicked  world,  and 
fo  had  their  hearts  led  away  from  God  ;  and  there  was  a  great 
and  continual  defeftion  from  the  church.  And  the  church  o£ 
God,  that  ufcd  to  be  a  reftraint  on  the  wicked  world,  diminifh-» 
cd  exceedingly,  and  fo  wickednefs  went  on  without  reftraint. 
And  Satan,  that  old  ferpent  the  devil,  that  tempted  our  firft 
parents,  and  fet  up  himfelf  as  god  of  this  world,  raged  exceed- 
ingly ;  and  every  imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  man's  heart 
was  only  evil  continually,  and  the  earth  was  filled  with  vio- 
lence.    It  fcemed  to  be  deluged  with  wickednefs  now,  as  it  was 

with 


X>artII.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  43 

with  water  afterwards  ;  And  mankind  in  general  were  drowned 
in  this  deluge  ;  almoft  all  were  fwallowed  up  in  it.  And  now 
Satan  made  a  mod  violent  and  potent  attempt  to  fwallow  up  the 
church  of  God ;  and  had  almoft  done  it.  But  yet  God  rcilor- 
ed  it  in  the  midft  of  all  this  flood  of  wickednefs  and  violence. 
He  kept  it  up  in  that  line  of  which  Chrift  was  to  proceed.  He 
would  not  fuffer  it  to  be  deftroyedj  for  a  blefling  was  in  it. 
The  Lord  the  Redeemer  was  in  this  branch  of  mankind,  and 
was  afterwards  to  proceed  from  it.  There  was  a  particular 
family  that  was  a  root  in  which  the  great  Redeemer  of  the 
world  was,,  and  whence  the  branch  of  righteoufnels  was  after- 
wards to  ftioot  forth.  And  therefore,  however  the  branches 
were  lopped  off,  and  the  tree  feemed  to  be  deftroyed  ;  yet' God, 
in  the  midft  of  all  this,  kept  alive  this  root,  by  his  wonderful  re- 
deeming power  and  grace,  fo  that  the  gates  of  hell  could  not  pre- 
vail againft  it. 

Thus  I  have  fhown  how  God  carried  on  the  great  affair  of 
redemption ;  how  the  building  went  on  that  God  began  after 
the  fall,  during  this  firfl  period  of  the  times  of  the  Old  Tefta- 
ment,  viz.  from  the  fall  of  man,  until  God  brought  the  flood  on 
the  earth.  And  1  would  take  notice  upon  it,  that  though  the 
hiftory  which  Mofes  gives  of  the  great  works  of  God  during 
that  fpace  be  very  fhort ;  yet  it  is  exceeding  comprehenfive  and 
inftruftive.  And  it  may  alfo  be  profitable  for  us  here  to  ob- 
ferve,  the  efEcacy  of  that  purchafe  of  redemption  that  had  fuch 
great  efFefts  even  in  the  old  world  fo  many  ages  before  Chrifl 
appeared  himfelf  to  purchafe  redemption,  that  his  blood  fhould 
have  fuch  great  elEcacy  fo  long  before  it  was  fhed. 


From  the  Flood  tatht  Calling  0/"  Abraham. 

I  PROCEED  now  to  fhow  how  the  fame  work  was  carriedi 
on  through  the  fecond  psriod  of  the  Old  Teflament,  that /row  the 
beginning  of  thejlood  until  the  calling  of  Abraham  :  For  though  that 
mighty,  overflowing,  univerfal  deluge  of  waters  overthrew  the 
world  ;  yet  it  did  not  overthrow  this  building  of  God,  the  work 
of  redemption.  But  this  went  on  yet ;  and  inftead  of  being 
overthrown,  continued  to  be  built  up,  and  was  carried  on   to  a 

furtlier 


44  aHISTORYof  the    '         Period  I. 

further  preparation  for  the  great  Saviour's  coining  into  the 
world,  and  working  out  redemption  for  his  people.  And  here, 
I,  The  flood  itfelf  was  a  work  of  God  that  belonged  to  this 
great  affair,  and  tended  to  promote  it.  All  the  great  and  mighty 
works  of  God  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world, 
are  reducible  to  this  work,  and,  if  feen  in  a  right  view  of  them, 
will  appear  as  parts  of  it,  and  fo  many  fteps  that  God  has  taken 
in  order  to  it,  or  as  carrying  it  on ;  and  doubtlefs  fp  great  a 
work,  fo  remarkable  and  univerfal  a  cataftrophe,  as  the  deluge 
was,  cannot  be  excepted.  It  was  a  work  that  God  wrought  in 
order  to  it,  as  thereby  God  removed  out  of  the  way  the  enemies 
and  obllacles  of  it,  that  were  ready  to  overthrow  it. 

Satan  feems  to  havp  been  in  a  dreadful  rage  jufl  before  the 
flood,  and  his  rage  then  doubtlefs  was,  as  it  always  has  been, 
chiefly  againft  the  church  of  God  to  overthrow  it;  and  he  had 
filled  the  earth  with  violence  and  rage  againft  it.  He  had 
drawn  over  almoft  all  the  world  to  be  on  his  fide,  and  they  lift- 
<;d  under  his  banner  againft.  Chrift  and  his  church.  We  read, 
that  the  earth  "  was  filled  v^ith  violence  ;"  and  doubtlefs  that 
violence  was  chiefly  againft  the  church,  in  fulfilment  of  what 
was  foretold,  /  zoitl  put  enmity  bcttocen  thy  feed  and  her  feed^  And 
their  enmity  and  violence  was  fo  great,  and  the  enemies  of  the 
church  fo  numerous,  the  whole  world  being  againft  the  church, 
that  it  was  come  to  the  laft  extreipify.  Noah's  reproofs,  and 
his  preaching  of  righteoufnefs,  were  utterly  difregarded.  God's 
Spirit  had  ftriven  with  them  an  hundred  and  twenty  years,  and 
all  in  vain;  and  the  church  was  almoft'  fwallowed  up.  It 
feems  to  have  been  reduced  to  fo  narrow  limits,  as  to  be  con- 
fined to  one  family.  And  there  was  no  profpe6l  of  any  thing 
eUe  but  of  their  totally  fwallowing  up  the  church,  and  that  in 
a  very  little  time;  and  fo  wholly  deftroying  that  fmall  root 
that  had  thp  blcfting  in 'it,  dr  whence  the  Redeemer  was  to 
proceed. 

And  therefore,  God's  deftroying  thofe  enemies  of  the  church 
by  the  flood,  belongs  to  thi?  affair  of  redemption  :  For  it  was 
pne  thing  that  was  done  in  fulfilment  of  the  covenant  of  grace, 
as  it  was  revealed  to  Adam  :  '•  I  will  put  enmity  between  thee 
and  the  woman,  and  between  thy  feed  and  her  feed,  it  ftialj 
bruife  thy  head."  This  dc/tw^i^"  '^vas  only  a  deftruftion  of 
thfe  feed  of  the  ferpent  in  the  midft  of  their  moft  violent  ragp 

againft 


Part  II.      WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  45 

againft  the  feed  of  the  woman,  and  fo  delivering  the  feed  of  the 
woman  from  them,  when  in  utmoft  peril  by  them. 

We  read  of  fcarcc  any  great  deflruclion  of  nations  any  where 
in  fcripture,  but  that  one  main  rcafon  given  for  it  is,  their  en- 
mity and  injuries  againfl  God's  church  ;  and  doubtlefs  this  was 
one  main  reafon  of  the  deftruftion  of  all  nations  by  the  flood. 
The  giants  that  were  in  thofe  days,  in  all  likelihood,  got  them- 
felves  their  renown  by  their  great  exploits  againil  Heaven,  and 
dgainfl  Chrift  and  his  church,  the  remaining  fons  of  God  that 
had  not  corrupted  themfclves. 

We  read,  that  jufl  before  the  world  fhallbe  dellroyedby  fire, 
the  nations  that  are  in  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth,  fhall  gath- 
er together  againft  the  church  as  the  fand  of  the  fea,  and  fliall 
go  up  on  the  breadth  of  the  earth,  and  compafs  the  camp  of  the 
faints  about,  and  the  beloved  city  ;  and  then  fire  fliall  come 
down  from  God  out  of  heaven,  and  devour  them,  Rev»  xx.  8, 
9.  And  it  fcems  as  though  there  was  that  which  was  very 
parallel  to  it,  juft  before  the  world  was  dedroyed  by  water. 
And  therefore  their  deftruclion  was  a  work  of  God  that  did 
as  much  belong  to  the  work  of  redemption,  as  the  deftruftioa 
of  the  Egyptians  belonged  to  the  redemption  of  the  children  of 
Ifrael  out  of  Egypt,  or  as  the  deftrudtion  of  Sennacherib's 
mighty  army,  that  had  compafTed  about  Jerufalem  to  deftroy  it, 
belonged  to  God's  redemption  of  that  city  from  them. 

By  means  of  t}>is  flood)  all  the  enemies  of  God's  church, 
againft  whom  that  little  handful  had  no  ftrength,  were  fwept 
off  at  once.  "  God  took  their  part,  and  appeared  for  them, 
againft  their  enemies,  and  drowned  thofc  of  whom  they  had 
been  afraid  in  the  flood  of  water,'  as  he  drowned  the  enemies  of 
Ifrael  that'purfued  them  in  the  Red  Sea. 

Indeed  God  could  have  taken  other  methods  to  deliver  his 
church  :  He  could  have  converted  all  the  world  inftead  of 
drowning  it  ;  and  fo  he  could  have  taken  another  method  than 
drowning  the  Egyptians  in  the  Red  Sea.  But  that  is  no  argu- 
ment, that  the  method  that  he  did  take,  wa^  not  a  method  to 
fhow  his  redeeming  mercy  to  them. 

By  the  wicked  world's  being  drowned,  the  wicked,  the  ene- 
mies of  God's  people,  were  difpoifefled  of  the  earth,  and  the 
whole  earth  given  to  Noah  and  his  family  to  polTefs  in  quiet  ; 
as  God  iTi.ade  room  for  the  Jfraditcs  in  Canaan,  by  cafting  out 
their  enemies  from  before  them.     And   God's  thus  taking  the 

poffeflion 


46  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  thk  Period  U 

poffefTion  of  the  enemies  of  the  church  and  giving  it  all  to  his 
church,  was  agreeable  to  that  promife  of  the  covenant  of  grace  : 
Ffal.  xxxvii.  9,  lo,  11.  "  For  evil  doers  fliall  be  cut  off  :  But 
thofe  that  wait  upon  the  Lord,  they  fhall  inherit  the  earth. 
For  yet  a  little  while  and  the  wicked  fhall  not  be  :  Yea,  thou 
fhalt  diligently  confider  his  place,  and  it  fhall  not  be.  But  the 
meek  fiiall  inherit  the  earth,  and  (hall  delight  themfelves  in  the 
abundance  of  peace." 

II.  Another  thing  here  belonging  to  the  fame  work,  was 
God's  fo  wonderfully  preferving  that  family  of  which  the  Re- 
deemer was  to  proceed,  when  all  the  reft  of  the  world  was 
drowned.  God's  drowning  the  world,  and  favi ng  Noah  and 
his  family,  both  were  works  reducible  to  this  great  work.  The 
/aving  Noah  and  his  family  belonged  to  it  two  ways.  As  that 
family  was  the  family  of  which  the  Redeemer  was  to  proceed, 
and  as  that  family  was  the  church  that  he  had  redeemed,  it  was 
the  mvftical  bodv  of  Chrift  that  was  there  faved.  The  manner 
of  God's  faving  thofe  perfons,  when  all  the  world  befides  was 
fo  overthrown,  was  very  wonderful  and  remarkable.  It  was  a 
"wonderful  and  remarkable  type  of  the  redemption  of  Chrift,  of 
that  redemption  that  is  fealed  by  the  baptifm  of  water,  and  is  fo 
fpoken  of  in  the  New  Teftament,  as  1  Pet.  iii.  20,  21.  "  Which 
fometime  v/ere  difobedient,  when  once  the  longfuffering  of  God 
waited  in  the  days  of  Noah,  while  the  ark  was  a  preparing, 
wherein  few,  that  is,  tight  fouls,  were  faved  by  water.  The 
like  figure,  whereunto,  even  baptifm,  doth  alfo  now  fave  us,  (not 
the  putting  away  of  the  filth  of  the  flefti,  but  the  anfwer  of  a 
good  confcience  towards  God,)  by  the  refurre£lion  of  Jefus 
Chrift."  That  water  that  waflied  away  the  filth  of  the  world, 
that  cleared  the  world  of  wicked  men,  was  a  type  of  the  blood 
of  Chrift,  that  takes  away  the  fin  of  the  world.  That  water  that 
delivered  Noah  and  his  fons  from  their  enemies,  is  a  type  of  the 
blood  that  deli^'crs  God's  church  from  their  fins,  their  worft 
enemies.  That  water  that  was  fo  plentiful  and  abundant,  tjiat 
it  filled  the  world,  and  reached  above  the  tops  of  the  higheft 
mountains,  was  a  type  of  that  blood,  the  fufficiency  of  which 
is  fo  abundant,  that  it  is  fufficient  for  the  whole  world  ;  fuffi- 
cient  to  bury  the  higheft  mountains  of  fin.  The  ark,  that  was 
the  refuge  and  hiding  place  of  the  church  in  this  time  of  ftorm 
and  flood,  was  a  type  of  Chrift,  the  true  hiding  place  of   the 

church  from  the  ftorms  and  floods  of  God's  wrath. 

Ill,  The 


Part  II.       W  O  R  K    or    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  r  O  N.  47  f 

III.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve  is,  the  new  grant  of  the 
earth  God  made  to  Noah  and  his  family  immediately  after  the 
flood,  as  founded  on  the  covenant  of  grace.  The  facrifice  of 
Chrift  was  reprcfented  by  Noah's  building  an  altar  to  the  Lord, 
and  offering  a  facrifice  of  every  clean  beaft,  and  every  clean 
fowl.  And  we  have  an  account  of  Cod's  accepting  this  facri- 
fice :  And  thereupon  he  blefled  Noah,  and  eftablifhcd  his  covc- 
fiant  with  him,  and  with  his  feed,  promifmg  to  deftroy  the  earth 
in  like  manner  no  more  ;  fignifying  how  that  it  is  by  the  facri- 
fice of  Chrill  that  God's  favour  is  obtained,  and  his  people  arc 
in  fafety  from  God's  deflroying  judgments,  and  do  obtain 
the  blefling  of  the  Lord.  And  God  now,  on  occafion  of  this 
facrifice  that  Noah  offered  to  God,  gives  him  and  his  poflerity 
a  new  grant  of  the  earth  ;  a  nevvr  power  of  dominion  over  the 
creatures,  as  founded  on  that  facrifice,  and  fo  founded  on  th^ 
covenant  of  grace.  And  fo  it  is  to  be  looked  upon  as  a  diverfe 
grant  from  that  which  was  made  to  Adam,  that  we  have,  Gen, 
i.  28.  "  And  God  bleffed  them,  and  God  faid  unto  them,  B© 
fruitful,  and  multiply  and  repleniHi  the  earth,  and  fubdue  it  j 
and  have  dom2n,ion'over  the  fifh  of  the  fea,  and  over  the.  fowl 
of  the  air,  and  over  every  living, thing  that  moveth  upon  the 
earth/'  Which  grant  was-  not  founded  on  the  covenant  of 
grace;  for  it  was  given  to  Adam  while  he  was  under  the  cove-* 
nant  of  works,  and  therefore  was  antiquated  when  that  cove- 
nant ceafed.  The  firft  grant  of  the  earth  to  Adam  was  founded 
on  the  firft  covenant  ;  and  therefore,  when  that  firft  covenant 
was  broken,  the  right  conveyed  to  him  by  that  firft  covenant 
was  forfeited  and  loft.  And  hence  it  came  to  pafs,  that  the 
earth  was  taken  away  from  mankind  by  the  flood  :  For  the 
firft  grant  was  forfeited  ;  and  God  had  never  made  another 
after  that,  until  after  the  flood.  If  the  firft  covenant  had  not 
been  broken,  God  never  would  have  drowned  the  world,  and 
fo  have  taken  it  away  from  mankind  :  For  then  the  firft  grant 
made  to  mankind  would  have  ftood  good.  But  that  was  brok- 
en ;  and  fo  God,  after  a  while,  deftroyed  the  earth,  when  the 
wickednefs  of  man  was  great. 

But  after  the  flood,  on  Noah's  offering  a  facrifice  that  reprc- 
fented the  facrifice  of  Chrift,  God  in  fmelling  a  fweet  favour, 
or  accepting  that  facrifice,  as  it  was  a  reprefentation  of  the  true 
facrifice  of  Chrift,  which  is  a  fweet  favour  indeed  to  God,  he 
gives  Noah  a  new  grant  of  the  earth,  founded  on  that  facrifice 

of 


4B  A    II  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  L 

of  Chrift,  or  that  covenant  of  grace  which  is  by  that  facrifice 
of  Chrift,  with  a  promife  annexed,  that  now  the  earth  Ihould 
no  more  be  deftroyed,  until  the  conlummation  of  all  things;  as 
you  may  fee  in  Gen.  viii,  20,  21,  22,  and  chap.  ix.  1,  2,  3,  7. 
The  realon  wliy  fuch  a  promile,  that  God  would  no  more  de- 
ftroy  the  earth,  was  added  to  this  grant  made  to  Noah,  and 
not  to  that  made  to  Adam,  was  becaufe  this  was  founded  on  the 
covenant  of  grace,  of  which  Chrift  was  the  furety,  and  there- 
fore could  not  be  broken.  And  therefore  it  comes  to  pafsnow, 
that  though  the  wickednefs  af  man  has  dreadfully  raged,  and 
the  earth  has  been  filled  with  violence  and  wickednefs  thou- 
fands  of  times,  and  one  age  after  another,  and  much  more 
dreadful  and  aggravated  wickednefs  than  the  world  was  full  of 
before  the  flood,  being  againft  fo  much  greater  light  and  mercy  ; 
cfpecially  in  thefe  days  of  the  gofpel :  Yet  God's  patience  holds 
out ;  God  does  not  dcilroy  the  earth ;  his  mercy  and  forbear- 
ance abides  according  to  his  promife  ;  and  his  grant  eftabliflied 
with  Noah  and  his  fons  abides  firm  and  good,  being  founded 
on  the  covenaHt  of  grace, 

IV,  On  this  God  renews  with  Noah  and  his  fons  the  cove- 
nant of  grace,  Gen,  ix.  9,  10.  "  And  I,  behold,  I  eftablifh  my 
covenant  with  you,  and  with  your  feed  after  you,  and  with  ev- 
ery living  creature  that  is  with  you,  &c,  which  was  the  covenant  of 
grace  ;  which  even  the  brute  creation  have  this  benefit  of,  that 
it  fhall  never  be  deftroyed  again  until  the  confummation  of  all 
things.  When  we  have  this  exprefhon  in  fcripture,  my  covenanty 
it  commonly  is  to  be  underfbood  of  the  covenant  of  grace. 
The  manner  of  expreflion,  "  I  will  eftablifh  my  covenant  with 
you,  and  with  your  feed  after  you,"  fhews  plainly,  that  it  was 
a  covenant  already  in  being,  that  had  been  made  already,  and 
that  Noah  would  under ftand  what  covenant  it  was  by  that  de- 
nomination, viz.  the  covenant  of  grace. 

V.  God's  difappointing  the  dcfign  of  building  the  city  and 
tower  of  Babel.  This  work  of  God  belongs  to  the  great  work 
of  redemption.  For  that  building  was  undertaken  in  oppofi- 
tion  to  this  great  building  of  God  that  we  are  fpeaking  of. 
Men's  going  abgiit  to  build  fuch  a  city  and  tower  was  an  effc6t 
of  the  corruption  that  mankind  were  now  foon  fallen  into. 
This  city  and  tower  was  fet  up  in  oppofition  to  the  city  of  God, 
as  the  god  that  they  built  it  to,  was  their  pride.  .  Being  funk 
Into  a  difpofition  to  forfakethe  true  God.  the  firft  idol  they  fct 

up 


HnlU      WORK    OF    REDEMPTION,  49 

up  in  his  room,  was  themfelv'es,  their  own  glory  and  fame. 
Arid  as  this  city  and  to\ver  had  their  foundation  laid  in  the  prido 
and  vanity  of  men,  and  the  haughtiriefs  of  their  minds,  fo  it 
was  built  on  a  foundation  exceedingly  contrary  to  the  nature 
of  the  foundation  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and  his  redeemed 
city,  which  has  its  foundation  laid  in  humility. 

Therefore  God  faw  that  it  tend«|f  to  fruflrate  the  dcfigri  of 
that  great  building  that  was  founded,  not  in  the  haughtinefs  of 
men,  but  Chrili's  blood  :  And  therefore  the  thing  that  they -did 
difplcafcd  the  Lord,  and  he  baffled  and  confounded  the  dciign, 
and  did  not  fuffer  them  to  bring  it  to  perfe6lion  ;  as  God  will 
fruftrate  and  confound  all  other  buildings,  that  are  fet  up  in 
oppofition  to  the  great  building  of  the  work  of  redemption. 

In  the  fecond  chapter  of  Ifaiah,  where  the  prophet  is  foretel- 
ling God's  fetting  up  the  kingdom  of  Chrill  in  the  world,  he 
foretells  how  God  will,  in  order  to  it,  bring  down  the  haughti- 
fiefs  of  men,  and  how  the  day  of  the  Lord  fhall  be  on  every  high 
tozoevy  arid  upori  evtry  fenced  wall ^  Stc.  Chriil's  kingdom  is  eftab- 
lifhed,  by  bringing  down  every  high  thing  to  make  way  for  it, 
S  Cor.  X,  4.  5.  «'  For  the  weapons  of  our  warfare  are  mighty 
through  God  to  the  pullirig  down  of  ftrong  holds,  cading  dowa 
imaginations,  and  every  high  thing  that  exalteth  itffelf  againO: 
the  kiiowledge  of  God.'*  What  is  done  in  a  particular  foul, 
to  make  way  for  the  fettirig  up  of  Chrift's  kingdom,  is  to  de<« 
flroy  Babel  in  that  foul. 

They  intended  to  have  built  Babel  up  to  heaven.  That 
building  that  is  the  fubjcft  we  are  upon^  is'a  building  that  is  in- 
tended to  bd  built  fo  high,  that  its  top  ihall  reach  to  heaven  in- 
deed, as  it  will  to  the  higheft  heaveris  at  the  end  of  the  world, 
when  it  fhall  be  finifhed  :  And  therefore  God  would  not  fuffer 
the  building  of  his  enemies,  that  they  defigned  to  build  up  to 
heaVeil  in  oppoiition  to  it,  to  profper.  If  they  had  gone  on 
and  piofpcred  in  building  that  city  and  tower,  it  might  have 
kept  the  world  of  wicked  men,'  the  enemies  of  the  church,  to- 
gether, as  that  was  their  dcfign.  They  might  have  remained 
united  in  one  vaft,  powerful  city  ;  and  fo  they  might  have  been 
too  powerful  fo.r  the  city  of  God,  and  quite  fwallowed  it  up. 

This  city  of  Babel  is  the  fame  with  the  city  of  Babylon  ;  for 

Babylon  in  the  original  is  Babel.      But  Babylon  was  a  city  that 

is  always  fpokcn  of  in  fcripturc   as  chiefly  oppofite  to  the  city 

of  God,     Babylon,  and  Jcrara.lcm,  orZion.  are  oppofed  to  each 

F  other 


50  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Perloai, 

other  often  both  in  the  Old  Teftament  and  New.  This  city 
was  a  powerful  and  terrible  enemy  to  the  city  of  God  after- 
wards, notwith {landing  this  great  check  put  to  the  building  of 
it  in  the  beginning.  But  it  might  have  been,  and  probably 
would  have  been  vaftly  more  powerful,  and  able  to  vex  and  de- 
llroy  the  church  of  God,  if  it  had  not  been  thus  checked. 

Thus  it  Vv'as  in  kIndnefs|pD  his  church  in  the  world,  and  in 
prolecution  of  the  great  dehgn  of  redemption,  that  God  put  a 
flop  to  the  building  of  the  city  and  tower  of  Babel. 

VI.  Tiie  difperfmg  of  the  nations   and  dividing  the  earth 
among    its  inhabitants,   immediately  after  God  had  caufed  the 
building  of  Babel  to  ceafe.     This  was  done  fo  as   mod  to  fuit 
that  great  defign  of  redemption.     And  particularly,  God  there- 
in had  an  eye  to  the  future  propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  the 
nations.     They  were  fo  placed,  the  bounds  of  their  habitation 
Co  limited  round  about   the  land  of   Canaan,    the  place  laid  out 
for  the  habitation  of  God's  people,  as  mod  fuited  the  defign  of 
propagating  the  gofpel  among  them :  Deut.  xxxii,  8.  '*■  When. 
the  Moll  High  divided  to   the  nations  their  inheritance,  when 
he  feparated  the  fons  of  Adam,  he  fet  the  bounds  of  the  people 
according  to  the  number  of  the  children  of  Ifrael,"     A£ls  xvii. 
26,  £7.  "  And  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men,  fot 
to  dwell  on  all  the    face  of   the  earth,  and  hath  determrned  the 
times  before   appointed,  and    the  bounds  of  their  habitation  ; 
that  they  fhould  feek   the  Lord,  if  haply  they   mfight   feel  after 
him,  and  find  him."     The  land  of  Canaan   was  the   moft  con- 
veniently fituated  of  any  place  in  the  world  for  the  purpofe  of 
fpreading  the  light  of  the  gofpel  thence  among    the  nations   in 
general.     The  inhabited  world  was  chiefly  in  the  Roman  em- 
])he    in  the    times  immediately  after  Chrift,  which  was   in  the 
countries    round   about  Jerufalem,  and    fo  properly  fituated  for 
the  purpofe  of  difiufing  the  light   of  the  gofpel   among   them 
ftom  that  place.     The  devil  feeing  the  advantage   of  this  fitua- 
tlon  of  the  nations   for  promoting    the    great  work  of  redemp- 
tion, and  the   difadvantage  of  it  with  rcfpe£t  to  the  interefts  of 
his  kingdom,  afterward  led  away  many  nations  into  the  remot- 
c(l  pans  of  the  world,  to  that  end,  to   get  them  out  of  the  way 
of  the  gofpel.     Thus  he  led  fome  into  America  ;  and  others  int9 
northern  cold  regions,  that  are  almoft  inacceflible. 

VII.   Another    thing    I   would  mention   in   this  period,  was 
God's  pielcrving  the  true  religion  in  the  line  of  which  Chrift 

wa? 


Part  II.        WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  tt 

■was  to  proceed,  when  the  world  in  general  apoftatized  to  idol- 
atry,  and  the  church  were  in  imminent  danger  of  being  fv/aK 
lowed  up  in  the  general  corruption.  Although  God  had  late- 
ly wrought  fo  wonderfully  for  the  deliverance  of  his  church, 
and  had  (hewn  fo  great  mercy  towards  it,  as  for  its  fake  even  to 
deftroy  all  the  reft  of  the  world ;  and  although  he  had  lately 
renewed  and  eftabllfhed  his  Covenant  of  grace  with  Noah  and 
his  Ions  s  yet  ^o  prone  is  the  corrupt  heart  of  man  to  depart 
from  God,  and  to  fink  into  the  depths  of  wickednefs,  and  fo 
prone  to  darknefs,  delufion,  and  idolatry,  that  the  world  foon 
after  the  flood  fell  into  grofs  idolatry  ;  fo  that  before  Abraham 
the  diftemper  was  become  alrooft  univerfaU  The  earth  was  be- 
come very  corrupt  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  Babel ;  and 
even  God's  people  themfelves,  even  that  line  of  which  Chrift 
was  to  come,  were  corrupted  in  a  meafure  with  idolatry' :  Jofh, 
xxiv.  2.  "  Your  fathers  dwelt  on  the  other  hdc  of  the  flood  in 
old  time,  even  Terah  the  father  of  Abraham,  'and  the  father  of 
Nahor  ;  and  they  feruid- other  gods."  The  other  fide  of  the  flood 
means  beyond  the  river  Euphrates,  where  the  anccftors  of  A- 
braham  lived. 

We  are  not  to  underftand,  that  they  were  wholly  drawn  off  to 
idolatry,  to  forfake  the  true  God.  For  God  is  faid  to  be  the  God 
of  Nahor  :  Gen.  xxxi.  53^  "The  God  of  Abraham,  and  the 
•God  of  Nahor,  the  God  of  their  father,  judge  betwixt  us.** 
But  they  only  partook  in  fome  meafure  of  the  general  and  al- 
moft  univerfal  corruption  of  the  times  ;  as  Solomon  was  in  a 
meafure  infefted  with  idolatrous  corruption-;  and  as  the  chil- 
dren of  Ifrael  in  Egypt  are  faid  to  ferve  other  gods,  though  yet 
there  was  the  true  church  of  God  among  them  :  and  as  there 
were  images  kept  for  a  confiderablc  time  in  the  family  of  Jacob  ; 
the  corruption  being  brought  from  Padanaram,  whence  he  fetch- 
ed his  wives. 

This  wasthe  fecorad  time  that  the  church  was  almoft  brought 
to  nothing  by  the  corruption  and  general  defeftion  of  the 
world  from  true  religion.  But  ftill  the  true  religion  was 
kept  up  in  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to  proceed.  Which 
is  another  inftance  of  God's  remarkably  preferving  his  church 
in  a  time  of  a  general  deluge  of  wickednefs  ;  and  wherein,  al- 
^  though  the  god  of  this  world  raged,  and  had  almof^  fwallowed 
up  God's  church,  yet  God  did  not  fuffer  the  gates  of  hell  to 
^prevail  againft  it. 

Part 


5a  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    ©r    thi  Period  I. 

Part       IIL 

JFrQm  tkc   CALLlliG  of  A^KAH AM  to  ^loSES.    * 

,  I  PROCEED  no^v  to  ihoyv  ho"^v  tlr\c  work  of  redemption 
was  carried  ot\'  through  the  third  period  of  the  times  of  the  Old 
Teflamcnt,  beginning  with  ths  cqlling  of  Abraham^  and  extending 
to  Mojes.     And  here, 

J.  ^t  pleafed  God  now  tp  feparate  that  perfon  of  whom  Chrift 
was  to  come,  fro^r^  the  reft  of  the  world,  that  his  church 
might  be  yiphcld  in  his  family  and  pollerity  until  Chrift 
fliould  come;  as  he  did  in  calling  Abraham  out  of  his  own 
country,  and  from  his  kindred,  to  go  into  a  diftailt  country 
that  God  fiiouid  fliow  him,  and  bringing  \\\m  firft  put  of  Ur  of 
the  Chaldees  to  Charran,  and  then  tp  the  laiijd  of  Canaan. 

It  was  before  obfcrved,  that  the  corruption  of  the  world  with 
idolatry  was  now  becorrie  general  ;  mankind  were  alrnoft  whol- 
ly overrun  with  idolatry :  God  therefore  faw  it  neteffary,  in 
order  to  uphold  true  religion  in  the  world,  that  there  fhould  bp 
a  famiiy  feparated  from  the  reft  of  the  world.  It  proved  to  be 
high  time  to  take  this  courfe,  left  the  church  of  Chrift  fhould 
wholly  be  carried  ^way  with  the  apoftafy.  For  the  church  of 
iGod  itfelf,  that  had  been  upheld  in  the  line  of  Abraham's  an- 
feftors,  was  already  confiderably  corrupted.  Abraham's  ovv^i 
country  and  kindred  had  moft  of  them  fallen  oft;  and  without 
fome  extraordinary  interpofition  of  Providence,  in  all  likeli- 
hood, in  a  generation  or  two  more,  the  true  religion  in  this 
line  would  have  been  extinft.  And  therefore  God  faw  it  to  b^ 
time  to  ca}l  Abraham,  the  perfon  in  whofc  family  he  intended 
to  uphold  the  true  religion,  out  of  his  own  country,  and  fror^ 
his  kindred,  to  a  far  diftant  country,  that  liis  pofterity  might 
there  remain  a  people  feparate  from  all  the  reft  of  the  world  ; 
that  fo  the  true  religion  miglit  be  upheld  there,  while  all  man- 
kind bendes  were  fwallowed  up  in  hcathenirin. 

The  land  of  the  Chaldees,  that  Abraham  was  called  to  go 
out  of,  was  the  country  about  Babel  ;  Biibcl,  or  Babylon,  was 
the  chief  city  of  tiie  land  of  CJialdca.  Learned  men  fuppof?, 
'  by  what  they  gather  from  fome  of  the  moft  ancient  accounts  o^.. 
things,  that  it  waS  in  this  land  that  idolatry  firft  began  ;  that 
Biibel  and  Chaldea  ware  ihc  original  ^i:d  chief  feat  of  the  wor- 


Part  HI.       WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  53 

Aiip  of  idols,  whence  it  fprcad  into  other  T>ations.  And  there- 
fore the  land  of  the  Chaldeans,  or  the  country  of  Babylon,  is 
in  fcripture  called  the  land  of  graven  images',  as  you  may  lee,  Jer. 
},  35.  together  with  ver.  38.  "  A  fvyord  is  i^pon  the  Chaldeans, 
faith  the  Lord,  and  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Babylon,  and  upon 

her  princes,  and  upon  her  wife  men.— A  drought  is  upon  her 

waters,  and  they  fhali  be  dried  up  ;  for  it  is  the  land  of  graven 
images,  and  they  are  mad  upon  their  idols."  God  calls  Abra- 
ham out  of  this  idolatrous  country,  to  a  great  diftance  from  it. 
And  when  he  came  there,  he  gave  him  no  inheritance  in  it,  no 
not  fo  much  as  to  fet  his  foot  on  ;  but  he  remained  a  ftrangcr 
and  a  fojourner,  that  he  and  his  family  miglit  be  kept  feparatc 
frorp  all  the  world.- 

This  was  a  new  thing  :  God  had  never  taken  fuch  a  method 
before.  His  church  had  not  in  this  manner  been  feparatcd 
fronj  the  reft  of  the  world  until  now  ;  but  were  wont  to  dwell 
with  them,  without  any  bar  or  fence  to  keep  them  fenarate  ; 
the  mifchievous  confequences  of  which  had  been  found  once 
and  again.  The  cfFc<£t  before  the  flood  of  God's  people 
living  intermingled  with  the  wicked  world,  without  any 
remarkable  wall  of  feparation,  was,  that  the  fons  of  the 
church  joined  in  marriage  with  others,  and  thereby  almofl:  all 
foon  became  infcftcd,  and  the  church  was  almoft  brought  to 
nothing.  The  method  that  God  took  then  to  fence  the  church 
was,  to  drown  the  wicked  world,  and  fave  the  church  in  the 
ark.  And  now  the  world,  before  Abraham  was  called,  was 
become  corrupt  again.  But  now  God  took  another  method. 
He  did  not  dellroy  the  wicked  world,  and  fave  Abraham  and 
his  wife,  and  Lot,  in  an  ark ;  but  he  calls  thefc  perfons  to  go 
and  live  feparate  fron;i  the  reft  of  t^ie  world. 

This  was  a  new  thing,  and  a  great  thing,  that  God  did  to- 
ward tJie  work  of  redemption.  This  thing  was  done  now  about 
the  middle  of  the  fpace  of  time  between  the  ftiU  of  man  and  the 
coming  of  Chrift ;  and  there  were  about  two  thoufand  years 
yet  to  come  before  Chrift  the  great  Redeemer  was  to  come. 
But  by  this  calling  of  Abraham,  the  anccftor  of  Chrift,  a  foun- 
dation was  laid  for  the  upholding  the  church  of  Chrift  in  the 
world,  until  Chrift  fhould  come.  For  the  world  having  be- 
come idolatrous,  there  was  a  neceftity  that  the  feed  of  the  wom- 
an fliould  be  thus  feparated  from  the  idolatrous  world  in  order 
:o  that. 

And 


CH  AlJiSTORYor  the  Period  I. 

And  then  it  was  needful  that  there  fhould  be  a  particular  na- 
tion fcparated  from  the  reft  of  the  world,  to  receive  the  types 
and  prophecies  that  were  needful  to  be  given  of  Chrift,  to  pre- 
pare the  way  for  his  coming  ;  that  to  them  might  be  committed 
the  oracles  of  God  ;  and  that  by  them  the  hiftory  of  God's 
great  works  of  crgation  and  providence  might  be  upheld ;  and 
that  fo  Chrift  might  be  born  of  this  nation  ;  and  that  from 
hence  the  light  of  the  gofpel  might  ftiine  forth  to  the  reft  of 
the  world.  Thefe  ends  could  not  be  well  obtained,  if  God's 
people,  through  all  thefe  two  thoufand  years,  had  lived  inter- 
mixed with  the  heathen  world.  So  that  this  calling  of  Abra- 
ham may  be  looked  upon  as  a  kind  of  a  new  foundation  laid  for 
the  vifible  church  of  God,  in  a  more  diftinft  and  regular  ftate, 
to  be  upheld  and  built  up  on  this  foundation  from  hencefor- 
ward, until  Chrift  fliould  a6lually  come,  and  then  through  him 
to  be  propagated  to  all  nations.  So  that  Abraham  being  the 
perfon  in  whom  this  foundation  is  laid,  is  reprefented  in  fcrip- 
ture  as  though  he  were  the  father  of  all  the  church,  the  father 
of  all  them  that  believe  ;  as  it  were  <i  root  whence  the  vifible 
church  thenceforward  through  Chrift,  Abraham's  root  and  off- 
spring, rofe  as  a  tree,  diftinft  from  all  other  plants;  ot  which 
tree  Chrift  was  the  branch  of  righteoufnefs  ;  and  from  which 
tree,  after  Chrift  came,  the  natural  branches  were  broken  off, 
and  the  Gentiles  were  grafted  into  the  fame  tree.  So  that  A- 
braham  ftill  remains  the  father  of  the  church,  or  root  of  the 
tree,  through  Chrift  his  feed.  It  is  the  fame  tree  that  flourifti- 
cs  from  that  fmall  beginning,  that  was  in  Abraham's  time,  and 
has  in  thefe  days  of  the  gofpel  fpread  its  branches  over  a  great 
part  of  the  earth,  and  will  fill  the  whole  earth  in  due  time,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  world  (liall  be  tranfplanted  from  an  earthl/ 
foil  into  the  paradife  of  God. 

II.  There  accompanied  this  a  more  particular  and  full  reve- 
lation and  confirmation  of  the  covenant  of  grace  than  ever  had 
been  before.  There  had  before  this  been,  as  it  were,  two  par- 
ticular and  folemn  editions  or  confirmations  of  this  cove- 
nant ;  one  at  the  beginning  of  the  firft  period,  which  was  that 
whereby  the  covenant  of  grace  was  revealed  to  our  firft  parerits, 
foon  after  the  fall ;  the  other  at  the  beginning  of  the  fecond  pe- 
riod, whereby  God  folcmnly  renewed  the  covenant  of  grace 
with  Noah  and  his  family  foon  after  the  flood  :  And  now  there 
IS  a  thirdj  at  the  beginning  of  the  third  peried,  at  and  after  th« 

calling 


Part  III.     WORK    or    REDEMPTION.  55 

callin<y  of  Abraham.     And  It  now  being  much  nearer  the  time 
of  the  coming  of  Chrift  than  when  the   covenant  of  grace  was 
firft  revealed,  it  being,  as  was  faid  before,    about  half  way  be- 
tween the  fall  and  the  coming  of  Chrift,    the  revelation  of  the 
covenant  now  was  much  more  full  than   any  that  had  been  be- 
fore.    The  covenant  was  now  more   particularly  revealed.     It 
was  now  revealed,  not  only  that   Chrift  fhould  be  ;  but   it   was 
revealed  to  Abraham,   that   he  fhould  be  his  feed ;  and  it  was 
now  promifed,  that  all  the  families  of  the  earth  fhould  be  bleff- 
ed  in  him.     And  God  was  much  in  the  promifes  of  this  to  A- 
braham.     The  firft  promife  was  when  he  firft  called  him,  Gen.    ■ 
xii.  2.  <'  And   I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation,    and    I   will 
blcfs  thee,  and  make  thy  name  great ;  and  thou  {halt  be  a  bleft- 
ing."     And  again  the  fame  promife  was  renewed  after  he  came 
into   the  land   of  Canaan,  chap.  xiii.  14,  &c.     And  the   cove- 
nant was  again  renewed  after  Abraham  had    returned  from  the 
flaughter   of  the  kings,  chap.  xv.  5,  6.     And   again,    after  his 
offering  up  Ifaac,  chap.  xxii.  16,  17,   18. 

In  this  renewal  of  the  covenant  of  grace  with  Abraham,  fev- 
eral  particulars  concerning  that  covenant  were  revealed  more 
fully  than  ever  had  been  before  ;  not  only  that  Chrift  was  to  be 
of  Abraham's  feed,  but  alfo,  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  and 
the  bringing  all  nations  into  the  church,  that  all  the  families  of 
the  earth  were  to  be  bleffed,  was  now  made  known.  And 
then  the  great  condition  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  which  is  faith, 
was  now  more  fully  made  known.  Gen.  xv,  5,  6.  ''  And  he  faid 
unto  him.  So  fhall  thy  feed  be.  And  Abraham  believed  God, 
and  it  was  counted  unto  him  for  righteoufnefs.'*  Which  is 
much  taken  notice  of  in  the  New  Teftament,  as  that  whence 
Abraham  was  called  the  father  of  them  that  believe. 

And  as  there  was  now  a  further  revelation  of  the  covenant 
of  grace,  fo  there  was  a  further  confinnation  of  it  by  feals  and 
pledges,  than  ever  had  been  before  ;  as,  particularly,  God  did  now 
inftitute  a  certain  facrament,  to  be  a  fteady  feal  of  this  covenant 
in  the  vifible  church,  until  Chrift  fhould  come,  viz.  circumci- 
fion.  Circumcilion  was  a  feal  of  this  covenant  of  grace,  as  ap- 
pears by  the  firft  inftitution,  as  we  have  an  account  of  it  in  the 
xviith  chapter  of  Genefis.  It  there  appears  to  be  a  feal  of  that 
covenant  by  which  God  promifed  to  make  Abrahatn  a  father  of 
many  nations,  as  appears  by  the  5th  verfe,  compared  with  the 
gth  and  10th  verfes.     And  wc  are  exprefsly  taught,  that  it  was 

a  feal 


56  \    II  I  S  T  O  R  Y     OF  THE  Penod  I. 

a  fcal  of  the  lighteoufncfs  of  faith,  Rom.  iv.  ii.  Speaking  of 
Abraham,  tlie  apoflle  lays,  *'  he  received  the  fign  of  circunici- 
fion,  a  feal  of  the  righteoufnefs  of  faith." 

As  I  obferved  before,  God  called  Abraham,  that  his  family 
and  pofierity  might  be  kept  feparate  from  the  reft  of  the  world, 
until  Chrift  fhould  come,  which  God  faw  to  be  necefifary  on 
the  forementioncd  accounts.  And  this  facrament  wa5  the  prin- 
cipal wall  of  reparation  ;  it  chiefly  diftinguifhed  Abraham's  feed 
from  the  world,  and  kept  up  a  diftinftion  and  feparation  more 
than  any  other  particular  obfervance  whatfoever. 

And  befid'cs  this,  there  were  other  occafional  feals,  pledges, 
and  confirmations,  that  Abraham  had  of  this  covenant;  as,  par- 
ticularly, God  gave  Abraham  a  rcmai  kable  pledge  of  the  ful- 
filment of  the  promifc  he  had  made  hira^  in  his  viftory  over 
Chedorlaomer  and  the  kings  that  were  with  him.  Chedorla- 
omer  feems  to  have  been  a  great  emperour,  that  reigned  over  a, 
great  part  of  the  world  at  that  day  ;  and  though  he  had  his  feat 
zi  Elam.  which  was  not  much  if  any  thing  fliort  of  a  thoufand 
miles  diftant  from  the  land  of  Canaan,  yet  he  extended  his  em- 
pire fo  as  to  reign  over  many  parts  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  as 
appears  by  chap.  xiv.  4,  5,  6,  7.  It  is  fuppofed  by  learned 
men,  that  he  was  a  king  of  the  Alfyrian  empire  at  that  day, 
which  had  been  before  begun  by  Nimrod  at  BabeL  And  as  it 
was  the  honour  of  kings  in  thofe  days  to  build  new  cities  to  be 
made  the  feat  of  their  empire,  as  appears  by  Gen.  x.-  10,  11,  12. 
fo  it  is  conjeftured,  that  he  had  gone  forth  and  built  him  a  city 
in  Elam,  and  made  that  his  feat ;  and  that  thofe  other  kings, 
who  came  with  him,  were  his  deputies  in  the  feveral  cities  arid 
countries  where  they  reigned.  But  yet  as  mighty  an  empire  as 
he  had,  and  as  great  an  army  as  he  now  came  with  into  thci 
land  where  Abraham  was,"3''et  Abraham,  only  with  his  trained 
fervants,  that  wxre  born  in  his  own  houfe,  conquered,  fubdued, 
and  baffled  this  mighty  cmperour,  and  the  kings  that  came  with 
him,  and  all  their  army.  This  he  received  of  God  as  a  pledge 
of  what  he  had  promiled,  viz,  the  viftoiy  that  Chrifl  his  feed 
fhould  obtain  over  the  nations  of  the  earth,  whereby  he  Ihould 
poffefs  the  gates  of  his  eriemies.  It  is  plainly  fpoken  of  as 
fuch  in  the  xlift  of  Ifaiah.  In  that  chapter  is  foretold  the 
future  glorious  viftory  the  church  fliall  obtain  over  the  nations 
of  the  world  ;  as  you  may  fee  in  the  ift,  loih,  and  15th  verfes, 
&c.     But  iicrc  this  vi.ftory  of  Abraham   over  fuch   a  great  cni-^ 

pcroi.ir 


Pan  III.    WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  57 

perour  and  his  mighty  forces,  is  fpoken  of  as  a  pledge  and  earn- 
eft  of  this  viftory  of  the  church,  as  you  may  fee  in  the  2d  and 
3d  verfcs.  ««  Who  raifed  up  the  righteous  man  from  the  eaft, 
called  him  to  his  foot,  gave  the  nations  before  him,  and  made 
him  rule  over  kings  :  He  gave  them  as  the  duft  to  his  fword, 
and  as  driven  ftubble  to  his  bow.  He  purfued  them,  and  pafT- 
ed  fafely  ;  even  by  the  way  that  he  had  not  gone  with  his  feet.'* 

Another  remarkable  confirmation  Abraham  received  of  the 
covenant  of  grace,  was  when  he  returned  from  the  flaughter  of 
the  kings ;  when  Melchifedec  the  king  of  Salem,  the  prieft  of 
the  moft  high  God,  that  great  type  of  Chrift,  met  him,  and 
hJeffcd  him,  and  brought  forth  bread  and  wine.  The  bread 
and  wine  fignified  the  fame  blcffings  of  the  covenant  of  grace, 
that  the  bread  and  wine  does  in  the  facrament  of  the  Lord's 
fupper.  So  that  as  Abraham  had  a  feal  of  the  covenant  in  cir- 
cumcifton  that  was  equit^alent  to  baptifm,  fo  now  he  had  a  feal 
of  it  equivalent  to  the  Lord's  fupper.  And  Melchifedec's  com- 
ing to  meet  hira  with  fuch  a  feal  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  on 
the  occafion  of  this  viftory  of  his  over  the  kings  of  the  north, 
confirms,  that  that  viftory  was  a  pledge  of  God's  fulfilment  of 
the  fame  covenant;  for  that  is  the  mercy  that  Melchifedec  with 
his  bread  and  wine  takes  notice  of;  as  you  may  fee  by  what  he 
fays  in  Gen,  xiv,  19.  20. 

Another  confirmation  that  God  gave  Abraham  of  the  cove* 
nant  of  grace,  was  the  vifion  that  he  had  in  the  deep  fleep  that 
fell  upon  him,  of  the  fmoking  furnace,  and  burning  lamp,  that 
pafTed  between  the  parts  of  the  facrifice,  as  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  xvth  chapter  of  Genefis*  The  facrifice,  as  all  facrifices  do, 
fignified  the  facrifice  of  Chrift,  The  fmoking  furnace  that  paffcd 
through  the  midft  of  that  facrifice  firft,  fignified  the  fufferings  of 
Chrift.  But  the  burning  lamp  that  followed,  which  fhone  with 
a  clear  bright  light,  fignifies  the  glory  that  followed  Chrift's  fuf- 
ferings, and  was  procured  by  them. 

Another  remarkable  pledge  that  God  gave  Abraham  of  the 
fulfilment  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  was  his  giving  of  the  child 
of  whom  Chrift  was  to  come,  in  his  old  age.  This  is  fpoken 
of  as  fuch  in  fcripture;  Heb.  xi.  11,  12.  and  alio  Rom.  iv. 
18,  &c. 

Again,  another  remarkable  pledge  that  God  gave   Abraham 
of  the  fulfilment  of  the  covenant  of  grace,   was  his  delivering 
Ifaac,  after  he  was  laid  upon  the   wood  of  the  facrifice  to  be 
G  fiain. 


38  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    of  the  Period  3<. 

flain.  This  was  a  confirmation  of  Abraham's  faith  in  the  prom>- 
iie  that  God  had  made  of  Chrift,  that  he  fhould  be  of  Ifaac's  pof- 
tcritv  ;  and  was  a  reprefentation  of  the  refurreftion  of  Chrift  ;  as 
you  may  fee,  Mcb.  xi.  17,  18,  19,  And  becaufe  this  was  given 
as  a  confirmation  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  therefore  God  re- 
newed that  covenant  with  Abraham  on  this  occafion,  as  you 
may  fee,  Gen.  xxiv.  15.  &c. 

Thus  you  fee  how  much  more  fully  the  covenant  of  grace 
was  revealed  and  confij  med  in  Abraham's  time  than  ever  it  had 
been  before ;  by  means  of  which  Abraham'  feems  to  have  had  a 
more  ci*  ir  underftanding.and  hght  of  Chrift  the  great  Redeem- 
er, and  the  future  things  that  were  to  be  accomplifhed  by  him^ 
than  any  of  the  faints  that  had  gone  before.  And  therefore 
Chrift  takes  notice  of  it,,  that  Abraham-  rejoiced  to  fee  his  day, 
and  he  faw  it,  and  wasglad^  John  viii.  5.6*  So  great  an  advance 
did  it  pleafe  God  now  to  make  in  this  building,  which  he  had 
been  carrying  on  from  the  beginning  of  the  world. 

Ill,  The  next  thing  that  I  would  take  notice  of  here,  is  God's- 
prcferving  the  patriarchs  for  fo  long,  a  time  in  '  the  midft  of  the* 
wicked   inhabitants  of  Canaan,    and  from  all   other  enemies. 
The  patriarchs  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  were  thofe  of  whom. 
Chrift  was  to  proceed;  and.  they  were  nowfeparated  from  the 
world,  that  in  them  his  church  might  be  upheld.     Therefore,  ih 
preferving  themy  the  great  defign  of  redemption  was  upheld  and 
carried  on.     He  prefer ved  them,,  and  kept   the   inhabitants  of 
the  land   where  they  fojpurned   from  deftroying,  them ;  which 
was  a  remarkable  difpenlation  of  Providence.     For  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  land,  were- at  that  day  exceedingly  wicked,    though 
they  grew  more  wicked  afterward.s.     This  appears  by  Gen.  xv. 
16.  "  In  the  fourth  generation  they  ftiall   come   hither  again; 
for  the  iniquity  of  the  Canaanites  is  not  yet  full  :"     As  much 
as  to  lay,  Though  it  be  very  great,  yet  it  is  not  yet  full.     And 
their  great  wickcJncfs   alfo  appears  by  Abraham  and  Ifaac's  a- 
vcrlion  to  their  children  marrying  any  of  the   daughters  of  the 
land.     Abraham,   when  he  was  old.  could  not  be  content  until 
he  had  made  his  fervant  fvvear  that  he   would  not  take  a  wife 
for  his  fon  of  the  daughters  of  the  land.     And  Ifaac  and   Re- 
becca were  content  to  fend  away  Jacob  to  fo  great  a  diftancc  as 
Padanaram,  to  take  him  a  wife  thence.     And  when  Efau  mar- 
ried fome  of  the  daughters  of  the  land,  we  arc  told,  that  they 
were  a  grief  of  mind  to  Ifaac  and  Rebecca. 

Another 


fzrtlil,       WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  59 

Another  argument  of  their  great  wickedncfs,  was  the  inflanc- 
cs  we  have  in   Sodom  and  Gomorrah,   Admah  and  Zeboim, 
which  were  fome  of  the  cities  of   Canaan   though  they  were 
probably  diftinguifhingly  wicked. 

And  they  being  thus  wicked,  were  likely  to  have  the  mod 
bitter  enmity  againft  thefe  holy  men  ;  agreeable  to  what  was 
<ieclared  at  firft,  ^'  I  will  put  enmity  between  thee  and  the  worn* 
an,  and  between^  thy  feed  aiad  her  feed.'*  Their  holy  lives 
were  a  continual  condemnation  of  their  wickednefs.  And  be- 
fides,  it  could  not  be  otherwifc,  but  that  they  muit  be  much  in 
reproving  their  wickednefs,  as  we  find  Lot  was  in  Sodom  ; 
who,  we  are  told,  vexed  his  righteous  foul  with  their  unlawful 
deeds,  and  was  a  preacher  of  righteoufncfs  to  them. 

And  they  were  the  rilore  expo  fed  to  them^  being  ftrangers 
and  fojourners  in  the  land,  and  having  no  inheritance  there  as 
yet.  Men  are  more  apt  to  find  fault  with  ftrangers,  and  to  be 
irritated  by  any  thing  in  them  that  offends  them,  as  they  were 
Tvith  Lot  in  Sodom.  He  very  gently  reproved  their  wicked- 
nefs ;  and  they  fay  upon  it,  "  This  fellow  came  in  to  fojourn,  and 
he  will  needs  be  a  ruler  and -a  judge  ;"  and  threatened  what  they 
would  do  to  him. 

But  God  wonderfully  preferved  Abraham  and  Lot,  and 
Ifaac  and  Jacob,  and  their  families,  amongfh  them,  though  they 
were  few  in  number,  and  they  might  quickly  have  deftroyed 
thcui  ;  which  is  taken  notice  of  as  a  wonderful  inflance  of 
God's  preferving  mercy  toward  his  church,  Pfal.  ev.  12.  Sec. 
*«  When  they  were  but  a  few  men  in  number  ;  yea,  very  few, 
and  flrangers  in  iu  When  they  went  from  one  nation  to  anoth- 
er, from  one  kingdom  to  another  people.  He  fullered  no  man 
to  do  them  wrong  ;  yea,  he  reproved  kings  for  their  fakes,  fay- 
ing, Touch  not  mine  anointed,  and  do  my  prophets  no  harm." 

This  prefervation  was  in  fome  inflances  eipecially  very  re- 
markable ;  thofe  inflances  that  we  have  an  account  of,  wherein 
the  people  of  the  land  were  greatly  irritated  and  provoked  ;  as 
they  were  by  Simeon  and  Levi's  treatment  of  the  Shechemites,  as 
you  may  fee  in  Gen.  xxxiv.  30.  &c,  God  then  flrangely  pre- 
ferved Jacob  and  his  family,  reftraining  the  provoked  people 
by  an  unufual  terror  on  their  minds,  as  you  may  fee  in  Gen. 
XXXV.  5.  ««  And  the  terror  of  God  was  upon  the  cities  that 
were  round  about  them,  and  they  did  not  purfue  after  the  fons 

of  Jacob,** 

And 


€o  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    or    the  Period  I* 

And  God's  preferving  them,  not  only  from  the  Cana- 
anites,  is  here  to  be  taken  notice  of,  but  his  preferving  them 
from  all  others  that  intended  mifchief  to  them  ;  as  his  preferv- 
ing Jacob  and  his  company,  when  purfued  by  Laban,  full  of 
rage,  and  a  difpofiton  to  overtake  him  as  an  enemy :  God  met 
him,  and  rebuked  him,  and  faid  to  him,  "  Take  heed  that  thou 
fpeak  not  to  Jacob  either  good  or  bad."  How  wonderfully  did 
lie  alfo  preferve  him  from  Efau  his  brother,  when  he  came  forth 
with  an  army,  with  a  full  defign  to  cut  him  off  I  How  did  God, 
in  anfwer  to  his  prayer,  when  he  wreftled  with  Chrill  at  Penu- 
el,  wonderfully  turn  Efau's  heart,  and  make  him,  inflead  of 
meeting  him  as  an  enemy  with  flaughter  and  deftruftion,  to 
meet  him  as  a  friend  and  brother,  doing  him  no  harm  ! 

And  thus  were  this  handful,  this  littfe  root  that  had  the  bleflT- 
ing  of  the  Redeemer  in  it,  preferved  in  the  midft  of  enemies 
and  dangers  ;  which  was  not  unlike  to  the  preferving  the  ark 
in  the  midfl  of  the  tempeftuous  deluge. 

JV.  The  next  thing  I  would  mention  is,  the  awful  dellruc- 
tion  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  the  neighbouring  cities. 
This  tended  to  promote  the  great  defign  and  work  that  is  the 
fubjeft  of  my  prefent  undertaking,  two  ways.  It  did  fo,  as  it 
tended  powerfully  to  reftrain  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  from 
injuring  thofe  holy  ftrangers  that  God  had  brought  to  fojourn 
amongfl  them.  Lot  was  one  of  thofe  ftrangers  ;  he  came  into 
the  land  with  Abraham  ;  and  Sodom  was  deftroyed  for  their  a- 
bufive  dlfregard  of  Lot,  the  preacher  of  righteoufne fs,  that  God 
had -fent' among  them.  And  their  deftruftion  came  juft  upon 
their  committing  a  moft  injurious  \and  abominable  infult  on 
Lot,  and  the  ftrangers  that  were  come  into  his  houfe,  even  thofe 
angels,  whom  they  probably  took  to  be  fome  of  Lot's  former 
acquaintance  come  from  the  country  that  he  came  from,  to  vifit 
him.  They  in  a  mofl  outrageous  manner  befet  Lot's  houfe,  in- 
tending a  monflrous  abufe  and  aft  of  violence  on  thofe  ftrangers 
that  were  come  thither,  and  threatening  to  ferve  Lot  worfe  than 
them. 

But  in  the  midft  of  this  God  fmote  them  with  blindnefs;  and 
the  next  morning  the  city  and  the  country  about  it  was  over- 
thrown in  a  moft  terrible  ftorm  of  fire  and  brimftone  ;  which 
dreadful  deftruftion,  as  it  was  in  the  fight  of  the  reft  of  the  in- 
Jiabitants  of  the  land,  and  therefore  greatly  tended  to  reftrain 
them  from  hurting  thofe  holy  ftrangers  any  more ',  it  doubtless 

ft  ruck 


Part  III.     WORK    ©F    REDEMPTION.  ^t 

ftruck  a  dread  and  terror  on  their  mlrflls.  and  made  them  afraid  to 
hurt  them,  and  probably  was  one  principal  means  to  reftrain 
them,  and  prefcrve  the  patriarchs.  And  when  that  rcafon  is 
given  why  the  inhabitants  of  the  land  did  not  purfue  after  Ja- 
cob, when  they  were  fo  provoked  by  the  deftru6lion  of  the 
Shechemites,  viz.  "  that  the  terror  of  the  Lord  was  upon  them,** 
it  is  very  probable,  that  this  was  the  terror  that  was  fe-t  home 
upon  them.  They  remembered  the  amazing  deftruftion  of  Sod- 
•m,  and  the  cities  of  the  plain,  that  came  upon  them  upon  their 
abufive  treatment  of  Lot,  and  fo  durll  not  hurt  Jacob  and  his 
family,  though  they  were  fo  much  provoked  to  it. 

Another  way  that  this  awful  deftru6lion  tended  to  promote 
this  great  affair  of  redemption,  was,  that  hereby  God  did  re- 
markably exhibit  the  terrors  of  his  law,  to  make  men  fenfible  of 
their  need  of  redeeming  mercy.  The  work  of  redemption 
never  was  carried  on  without  this.  The  law,  from  the  begin- 
ning, is  made  ufe  of  as  a  fchoolmafter  to  bring  men  to  Chrift. 

But  under  the  Old  Teftament  there  was  much  more  need  of 
fome  extraordinary,  vihble,  and  fenfible  manifeftation  of  God's 
wrath  againft  fin,  than  in  the  days  of  the  gofpel  j  f>ncc  a  future 
flaite,  and  the  eternal  mifery  of  hell,  is  more   clearly  revealed^ 
and  lince  the  awful  juflice  of  God  againft  the   fins  of  men  has 
been  fo  wonderfully  difplayed  in  the  fufFerings  of  Chrift.     And 
therefore  the  revelation  that  God  gave  of  himfclf  in  thofe  days, 
ufed  to  be  accompanied  with  much  more   terror  than  it  is  in 
thefe  days  of  the   gofpel.     So   when  God  appeared  at  Mount 
Sinai  to  give  the  law,  it  was  with  thunders  and  lightnings,   and 
a  thick  cloud,   and  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  exceeding    loud. 
But  fome  external  awful  manifeftations  of  God's  wrath  againft 
fin  were  on  fome  accounts  efpecially  necefTary  before  the  giving 
of  the  law  :  And  therefore,  before   the  flood,  the  terrors  of  the 
law  handed  down  by  tradition  from  Adam  ferved.     Adam  lived 
nine  hundred    and  thirty  years   himfelf,   to    tell  the  church  of 
God's  awful  threatenings  denounced  in  the  covenant  made  with 
him,  and  how  dreadful  the  confequences  of  the  fall  were,  as  he 
was  an  eyewitnefs  and  fubj^cl ;  and  others,  that  converfed  with 
Adam,  lived  until  the  flood.     And  the  deftruftion  of  the  world 
by  the  flood  ferved  to  exhibit  the  tenors  of  the  law,   and  mani- 
feft  the  wrath  of  God  againft  fin  ;  and  fo  to  make  men  fenfible 
pf  the  abfolute  necellity  of  redeeming  mercy.     And  fome  th^t 
^aw  the  flood  were  alive  in  Abraham's  time. 

But 


(S%  A    HISTORY    OF  THs  Penod  L 

.  But  this  was  now  in  a  great  meafure  forgotten  ;  now  there- 
fore God  was  pleafed  again,  in  a  mofl  amazing  manner,  to  fhow 
hi&  wrath  again  ft  fin,  in  the  de{lru6lion  of  thefe  cities  ;  which 
was  after  fuch  a  manner  as  to  be  the  livelieft  image  of  hell  of 
any  thing  that  ever  had  been  ;  and  therefore  the  apoftle  Judc 
fays,  "  They  fuffer  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire,'*  Jude  7. 
God  rained  ftorms  of  fire  and  brimftone  upon  them.  The  way 
that  they  were  dellroyed  probably  was  by  thick  flafhes  of  light- 
ning. The  ftreams  of  brimftone  were  fo  thick  as  to  burn  up 
all  thefe  cities  ;  fo  that  they  perifhed  in  the  flames  of  divine 
wrath.  By  this  might  be  fecn  the  dreadful  wrath  of  God 
againft  the  ungodlinefs  and  unrighteoufncfs  of  n;ien  ;  which 
tended  to  (how  men  the  neceffity  of  redemption,  and  fo  to  pro«» 
mote  that  great  work. 

V.  God  again  renewed  and  confirmed  the  covenant  of  grace 
t&  Ifaac  and  to  Jacob.  He  did  fo  to  Ifaac,  as  you  may  lee. 
Gen.  XXV i.  3,  4.  "  And  I  will  perform  the  oath  which  I  fware 
unto  Abraham  thy  father ;  and  I  will  make  thy  feed  to 
multiply  as  the  flars  in  heaven,  and  will  give  unto  thy  feed  all 
thefe  countries ;  and  in  thy  feed  fhall  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth  be  bleffed.*'  And  afterwards  it  was  renewed  and  ccJn- 
firmed  to  Jacob ;  firft  in  Ifaac's  bleffing  of  him,  wherein  he 
afted  and  fpoke  ^y  extraordinary  divine  direftion.  In  that 
bleffing,  the  bleffings  of  the  covenant  of  grace  were  eftablilhed 
with  Jacob  and  his  feed;  as  Gta.  xxvii.  29.  "  Let  people fervc 
thee,  and  nations  bow  down  to  thee ;  be  lord  over  thy  breth- 
ren, and  let  thy  mother's  fons  bow  down  to  thee  :  Curfed  be 
every  one  that  curfeth  thee,  and  bleffed  be  he  that  bleffeth  thee." 
And  therefore  Efau,  in  mifiing  of  this  blciling,  miffed  of  being 
bleffed  as  an  heir  of  the  benefits  of  the  covenant  of  grace. 

This  covenant  was  again  renewed  and  confirmed  to  Jacob  at 
Bethel,  in  his  vifion  of  the  ladder  that  reached  to  heaven ; 
which  ladder  was  a  fymbol  of  the  way  of  faivation  hy  Chrift. 
For  the  ilone  that  Jacob  refled  on  was  a  type  of  Chrlft,  the 
itone  of  Ifracl,  which  the  fpiritual  Ifrael  or  Jacob  refls  upon  ; 
as  is  evident,  bccaufe  this  ilonc  was  on  this  occafion  anointed, 
and  was  made  ufe  of  as  an  altar.  But  we  know  that  Chrift  is 
the  anointed  of  God,  and  is  the  only  true  altar  of  God.  While 
Jacob  was  reftlng  on  this  Hone,  and  faw  this  ladder,  God  ap- 
pears to  him  as  his  covenant  God,  and  renews  the  covenant  of 
^race  with  him  ;  as  in  Gen.  xxviii.  14,  «<  And  thy  feed  fhail  b« 

as 


Part  III.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  6^ 

ds  the  diifl  of  the  earth;  and  thou  (halt  fprcad  abroad  to  the 
weft,  and  to  the  caft,  and  to  the  north,  and  to  the  fouth ;  and 
in  thee  and  in  thy  feed  (hall  all  the  families  of  the  earth  be 
bleffed." 

And  Jacob  had  another  remarkable  confirmation  of  this  cov" 
cnant  at  Penuel,  where  he  wreftled  with  God,  and  prevailed  ; 
where  Chrift  appeared  to  him  in  a  human  form,  in  the  form  of 
that  nature  which  he  was  afterwards  to  receive  into  a  perfonal 
union  with  his  divine  nature. 

And  God  renewed  his  covenant  with  him  again,  after  he  was 
come  out  of  Padanaram,  and  was  come  up  to  Bethel,  to  the 
ftonc  that  he  had  refted  on,  and  w^here  he  had  the  vifion  of 
the  ladder;  as  you  may  fee  in  Gen.  xxxv.  lo.  &c. 

Thus  the  covenant  of  grace  was  now  often  renewed,  much 
oftener  than  it  had  been  before.  The  light  of  the  gofpel  now 
began  to  fhine  much  brighter,  as  the  time  drew  nearer  that 
Chrift  ftiould  come. 

VI.  The  next  thing  I  would  obfervc,  is  God's  remarkably 
preferving  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to  proceed  from  per<- 
iihing  by  famine,  by  the  inftrumentality  of  Jofeph.  When 
there  was  a  feven  years  famine  approaching,  God  was  pleafed, 
by  a  wonderful  providence^  to  fend  Jofeph  into  Egypt,  there 
to  provide  for,  and  feed  Jacob  and  his  family,  and  to  keep  the 
holy  feed  alive,  which  otherwife  v^juld  have  periilied.  Jofeph 
was  fent  into  Egyot  for  that  end,  as  he  obferves.  Gen.  1.  so* 
*'  But  as  for  you,  ye  thought  evil  againft  me ;  but  God  meant 
it  unto-good.  to  fave  much  people  alive."  How  often  had  thivS 
holy  root,  that  Jiad  the  future  branch  of  righteoufnefs,  the  glo- 
rious Redeemer,  in  it,  been  in  danger  of  being  dellroyed  !  But 
God  wonderfully  preferved  it. 

This  falvation  of  the  houfe  of  Ifracl  by  the  hand  of  Jofeph, 
was  upon  fomc  accounts  very  much  a  refemblance  of  the  falva- 
tion of  Chrift.  The  children  of  Ifrael  were  faved  by  Jofeph 
their  kinfman  and  brother,  from  perifhing  by  famine  ;  as  he 
that  faves  the  fouls  of  the  fpiritual  Ifrael  from  fpiritual  famine 
is  their  near  kinfman,  and  one  that  is  not  afhamed  to  call  them 
brethren.  Jofeph  was  a  brother,  that  they  had  hated,  and  fold» 
and  as  it  were  killed  ;  for  they  had  defigned  to  kill  him.  So 
Chrift  is  one  that  we  naturally  hate,  and,  by  our  wicked  lives, 
have  fold  for  the  vain  things  of  the  world,  and  that  by  our  fiiis 
we  have  ilain,     Jofeph  was  firft  in  a  ftate  of  huwiiliation  ;  he 


6f  A    H  I  S  T  a  R'  Y    OF  T!?E  P^rxod  h 

was  a  fcrvant,  as  Chrift  appeared  in  the  form  of  a  fervant  ; 
and  then  was  caft  into  a  dungeon,  as  Chrift  defcended  into  the 
g.rave  ;  and  then  when  he  roie  out  of  the  dungeon,  he  was  in  a 
flate  of  great  exaltation,  at  the  king's  right  hand  as  his  deputy, 
to  reign  over  all  his  kingdom,  to  provide  food,  to  preferve  life ; 
and  being  in  this  ftate  of  exaltation,  he  difpenfes  food  to  his- 
brethren,  and  fo  gives  them  life ;  as  Chrift  was  exalted  at 
God's  right  hand  to  be  a  prince  and  faviour  to  his  brethren,' 
and  received  gifts  for  men,  even  for  the  rebellious,  and  them 
that  hated,  and  had  fold  him. 

Vli.  After  this  there  was  a  prophecy  given  forth  of  Chrift,' 
en  fome  accounts,  more  particular  than  ever  any  had  been  bc"* 
fore,  even  that  which  was  in  Jacob's  bleffing  his  fon  Judah* 
This  was  more  particular  than  ever  any  had  been  before,  as  it 
fhowed  of  whofe  pofterity  he  was  to'  be.  When  God  called 
Abraham,  it  was  revealed  that  he  was  to  b«  of  Abraham's  pof* 
terity.  Before,  we  have  no  account  of  any  revelation  concern* 
ing  Chrift's  pedigree,  confined  to  narrower  limits  than  the  pof- 
terity of  Noah :  After  this  it  was  confined  to  ftill  narrowef 
limits ;  for  though  Abraham  had  many  fons,  yet  it  was  reveal  - 
ed,  that  Chrift  was  to  be  of  Ifaac's  pofterity.  And  then  it  was 
limited  more  ftill :  For  when  Ifaac  had  two  fons,  it  was  reveal- 
ed that  Chrift  was  to  be  of  Ifrael's  pofterity.  And  now, 
though  Ifrael  had  twelve  fons,  yet  it  is  revealed  that  Chrift 
fhould  be  of  Judah's  pofterity  :  Chrift  is  the  lion  of  the  tribe 
of  Judah.  Refpeft  is  chiefly  had  to  his  great  afts^  when  it  is 
faid  here,  Gen.  xlix.  8.  "  Judah,  thou  art  he  whom  thy  breth- 
ren (hall  praife  ;  thy  hand  Ihall  be  in  the  neck  of  thine  ene- 
mies ;  thy  father's  children  fhall  bow  down  before  thee.  Judah 
is  a  lion's  whelp  ;  from  the  prey,  my  fon,  thou  art  gone  up  : 
He  ftooped  down,  he  couched  as  a  lion,  and  as  an  old  lion  ; 
^  Who  fhall  roufe  him  up  ?"  And  then  this  predi6tion  is 
more  particular  concerning  the  time  of  Chrift's  coming,  than 
any  had  been  before  ;  as  in  ver.  lo.  "The  fceptre  fhall  not 
depart  from  Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet,  until 
Shiloh  come  ;  and  unto  him  fliall  the  gathering  of  the  people 
be."  The  prophecy  here,  of  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles  confe- 
<]uent  on  Chriih's  coming,  feems  to  be  more  plain  than  any  had 
been  before,  in  the  cxpreftion,  t9  himjliall  the  gathering  of  thi  piO* 
pU  be* 

Thus 


Part  III.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  C5 

Thus  you  fee  how  that  gofpel  light  which  dawned  iirifr.edi:" 
ately  after  the  fall  of  man,  gradually  increafes. 

VIII.  The  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  in  this  peri- 
od, in  God's  wonderfully  preferving  the  children  of  Ifrael  in 
Egypt,  when  the  power  of  Egypt  was  engaged  utterly  to  de- 
ftroy  them.  They  feemed  to  be  wholly  in  thq  hands  of  the 
Egyptians ;  they  were  their  fervants,  and  were  fuhjeft  to  the 
power  of  Pharaoh  ;  And  Pharaoh  fet  himlelf  to  weaKen  them 
with  hard  bondage.  And  when  he  fawthat  did  not  do,  he  fet 
himfelf  to  extirpate  the  race  of  them,  by  commanding  that  eve- 
ry male  child  fhould  be  drowned.  But  after  ail  that  Pharaoh 
could  do,  God  wonderfully  prefervcd  them  ;  and  not  only  fo, 
but  increafed  them  exceedingly  ;  fo  that,  infteadof  being  extir- 
pated, they  greatly  multiplied. 

IX.  Here  is  to  be  obferved,  not  only  the  prefervatlon  of  the 
nation,  but  God's  wonderfully  preferving  and  upholding  his  in- 
vifible  church  in  that  nation,  when  in  danger  of  being  over- 
whelmed in  the  idolatry  of  Egypt.  The  children  of  Ifrael  being 
long  among  the  Egyptians,  and  being  fervants  under  them,  and  fo 
not  under  advantages  to  keep  God's  ordinances  among  them- 
felves,  and  maintain  any  publick  worfhip  or  publick  inllruc- 
tion,  whereby  the  true  religion  might  be  upheld,  and  there  be- 
ing now  no  written  word  of  God,  they,  by  degrees,  in  a  great 
meafure  loft  the  true  religion,  and  borrowed  the  idolatry  of  E* 
gypt ;  and  the  greater  part  of  the  people  fell  away  to  the  wor- 
Ihip  of  their  gods.  This  we  learn  by  Ezek.  xx.  6.  7,  8,  and  by 
chap,  xxiii,  8. 

This  now  was  the  third  time  that  God's  church  was  almoft 
fwallowed  up  and  carried  away  with  the  wickednefs  of  the 
world  ;  once  before  the  flood  ;  the  other  time,  before  the  call- 
ing of  Abraham  ;  and  now,  the  third  time,  in  Egypt.  But  yet 
God  did  not  fufFer  his  church  to  be  quite  overwhelmed; 
he  ftill  faved  it,  like  the  ark  in  the  flood,  and  as  he  faved 
Mofes  in  the  midft  of  the  v/aters,  in  an  ark  of  bulruflies, 
where  he  was  in  the  utmoft  dancrer  of  bein^  fwallowed 
up.  The  true  religion  was  ftill  kept  up  with  lome  ;  and 
God  had  ftill  a  people  among  them,  even  in  this  mifcr* 
able-,  corrupt,  and  dark  time.  The  parents  of  Mofes  were 
true  fervants  of  God,t  as  we  may  learn  by  Heb.  x'u  23.  «  By 
faith    Mofes,    when    lie   was   born,    was    hid    three     months 

of 
H 


66  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    tut  Period  I* 

of  his  parents,  becaure  they  faw  that  he  was  a  proper   child  ; 
and  they  were  not  afraid  of  the  king's  commandment.'* 

I  have  now  gone  through  the  third  period  of  the  Old  Tefla- 
ment  time  ;  and  have  fhovvn  how  the  work  of  redemption  was 
carried  otf  from  the  calling  of  Abraham  to  Mofes  ;  in  which 
we  have  feen  many  great  things  done  towards  this  work,  and 
a  great  advancement  of  this  building,  beyond  what  had  been  be* 
foie. 

P      A      R      T        IV. 

Sf-om  Moses  to  David. 

I  PROCEED  to  the  fourth  period,  which  reaches  from  Mo- 
fes to  David. — I  would  fhow  how  the  work  of  redemption  was 
carried  on  through  this  alfo. 

I,  The  fitrft  thing  that  offers  itfelf  to  be  confidered,  is  the  re- 
demption of  the  church  of  God  out  of  Egypt  ;  the  mofl  re- 
markable of  all  the  Old  Teftament  redemptions  of  the  church 
of  God,  and  that  which  was  the  greatefb  pledge  and  forerun- 
ner of  the  future  redemption  of  Chrift,  of  any ;  and  is  miich 
more  infilled  on  in  fcripturc  than  any  other  of  thofe  redemp- 
tions. And  indeed  it  was  the  greateil  type  of  Chrift's  redemp* 
tion  of  any  providential  event  whatfoever.  This  redemption 
was  by  Jefus  Chrift,  as  is  evident  from  this,  that  it  was  wrought 
by  him  that  appeared  to  Mofes  in  the  bufh  ;  for  that  was  the 
perfon  that  fent  Mofes  to  redeem  that  people.  But  that  was 
Chrift,  as  is  evident,  becaufe  he  is  called  the  angel  of  the  Lord, 
Ex.  iii.  2.  3.  The  bufh  reprefented  the  human  nature  of  Chrift, 
that  is  called  the  branch^  The  bufh  grew  on  Mount  Sinai  or 
Horeb,  which  is  a  word  that  fighiBes  a  dry  place,  as  the  human 
nature  of  Chrift  was  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground.  The  bufh  burn- 
ing with  fire,  reprefented  the  fufi^erings  of  Chrift,  in  the  fire  of 
God's  wrath.  It  burned  and  was  not  confumed  ;  fo  Chrift, 
though  he  fuff"cred  extremely,  yet  perifhed  not ;  but  overcame 
at  laft,  and  rofe  from  his  fuft'erings.  Becaufe  this  great  myftc- 
ry  of  the  incarnation  and  fufferings  of  Chrift  was  here  reprC' 
fented,  therefore  Mofes  fays,  «  I  will  turn  afide,  and  behold 
;ihis  great  light."     A  great   fight  he  might  well  call  it,  when 

there 


Faxt  IV.    WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  6^7 

there  was  reprefentcd,  God  manifcft  in  the  flefh,   and  fuffer- 
ing  a  dreadful  death,  and  rifing  from  the  dead. 

This  glorious  Redeemer  was  he  that  redeemed  the  church  out 
o£  Egypt,  from  under  the  hand  of  Pharaoh  ;  as  Chiift,  by  his 
death  and  fufferings,  redeemed  his  people  from  Satan,  the  fpir- 
itual  Pharaoh.  He  redeemed  them  from  hard  fervice  and  cruel 
drudgery;  as  Chriil  redeems  his  people  from  the  cruel  flavery 
of  fin  and  Satan.  He  redeemed  them,  as  it  is  {did^from  the  iron 
Jurnacc  ;  as  Chrifh  redeems  his  church  from  a  furnace  of  fire 
and  everlafting  burnings.  He  redeemed  them  with  a  ftionfr 
hand,  and  outftretched  arm,  and  great  and  terrible  judgrrients 
on  their  enemies  ;  as  Chrift  with  mighty  power  triumphs  over 
primipalities  and  poiocrs,  and  executes  ♦terjrible  judgments  on  his 
church's  enemies,  bruiling  the  ferpent's  head.  He  faved  them, 
when  others  were  deiiroyed,  by  the  fprinkling  of  the  blood  of 
the  pafchal  lamb  •,  aa  God's  church  is  faved  from  death  by  the 
fprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Chrift,  when  the  reft  of  the  world  is 
deftroyed.  God  brought  forth  the  people  forely  againft  the 
will  of  the  Egyptians,  when  they  could  not  bear  to  let  them  go ; 
Co  Chrift  refcues  his  people  out  of  the  hands  of  the  devil,  fore- 
ly againft  his  will,  when  his  proud  heart  cannot  bear  to  be 
overcotne. 

In  that  redemption,  Chrift  did  not  only  redeem  the  people 
from  the  Egyptians,  but  he  redeemed  them  from  the  devils,  the 
gods  of  Egypt;  for  before,  they  had  been  in  a  ftatc  of  fervitude 
to  the  gods  of  Egypt,  as  well  as  to  the  men.  And  Chrift,  the 
feed  of  the  woman,  did  now,  in  a  very  remarkable  manner,  ful- 
fil the  curfe  on  the  ferpent  in  bruifing  his  head:  Exod.  xii.  12. 
**  For  I  will  pafs  through  the  land  of  Egypt  this  night,  and  will 
fmite  all  the  firft  born  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  both  man  and 
beaft,  and  againft  all  the  gods  of  Egypt  will  I  execute  judg- 
ment." Hell  was  as  much  and  more  engaged  in  that  affair,  than 
Egypt  was.  The  pride  and  cruelty  of  Satan,  that  old  ferpent, 
was  more  concerned  in  it  than  Pharaoh's.  He  did  his  utmoft 
againft  the  people,  and  to  his  utmoft  oppofed  their  redemption. 
But  it  is  faid,  that  when  God  redeemed  his  people  out  of  Egypt, 
he  broke  the  heads  of  the  dragons  in  the  waters,  and  broke  the 
head  of  leviathan  in  pieces,  and  gave  him  to  be  meat  for  the 
people  inhabiting  the  wildernefs,  Pfah  Ixxiv.  12,  13,  14.  God 
forced  their  enemies  to  let  them  go,' that  they  might  ferve  htm  ; 

as 


68  A    H  I  S  J  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  I* 

as  alfo  Zacharias  obferves  with  rcfpeft  to  thethurch  under  the 
gofpel,  Luke  i.  74,  75. 

. '  The  people  of  Ifrael  went  out  with  an  high  hand,  and  Chrift 
went  before  them  in  a  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire.  There  was  a 
glorious  triumph  over  earth  and  hell  in  that  deliverance.  And 
when  Pharaoh  and  his  hofls,  and  Satan  by  them,  purfued  the 
people,  Chrift  overthrew  them  in  the  Red  Sea;  the  Lord  tri- 
umphed glorioufly ;  the  horfe  and  his  rider  he  caft  into  the 
fea,  and  there  they  flept  their  laft  fleep,  and  never  followed  the 
children  of  Ifrael  any  more ;  as  all  Chrift's  enemies  are  over- 
thrown in  his  blood,  which  by  its  abundant  fufficiency,  and  the 
greatnefs  of  the  fufferings  with  which  it  was  fhed,  may  well  be 
reprefented  by  a  fea.  The  Red  Sea  did  reprefent  Chrift's 
blood,  as  IS  evident,  becaufe  the  apoftle  compares  the  children 
of  Ifrael's  paffage  through  the  Red  Sea  to  baptifm,  1  Cor.  x.  i, 
.2.  But  we  all  know  that  the  water  of  baptifm  reprcfents 
Chrift's  blood. 

Thus  Chrift,  the  angel  of  God's  prefence,  in  his  love  and  his 
pity,  redeemed  his  people,  and  carried  them  in  the  days  of  old 
as  on  eagles'  wings,  fo  that  none  of  their  proud  ahd  fpitcful  en- 
emies, neither  Egyptians  nor  devils,  could  touch  thfem. 

This  was  quite  a  new  thing  that  God  did  towards  this  great 
work  of  redemption.  God  never  had  done  any  thing  like  it 
before  ;  Deut.  iv.  3,?,  33,  34.  This  was  a  great,  advancement 
of  the  work  of  redemption,  th^^t^ihad  been  begun  and  carried 
on  from  the  fall  of  man ;  a  great  ftep  taken  in  divine  provi- 
dence towards  a  preparation  for  Chrift's  coming  into  the  world, 
and  working  out  his  great  and  eternal  redemption:  For  this 
was  the  people  of  whom  Chrift  was  to  come.  And  now  we 
may  fee  how  that  plant  flouriftied  that  God  had  planted  in  A- 
braham.  Though  the  family  of  which  Chrift  was  to  come, 
had  been  in  a  degree  feparated  from  the  reft  of  the  world  be- 
fore, in  the  calling  of  Abraham  ;  yet  that  feparation  that  was 
then  made,  appeared  not  to  be  fufficient,  without  further  fepa- 
ration. For  though  by  that  feparation,  they  were  kept  as 
ftrangers  and  fojourners,  kept  from  being  united  with  other 
people  in  the  fame  political  focieties;  yet  they  remained  mixed 
among  them,  by  which  means,  as  it  had  proved,  they  had  been 
in  danger  of  wholly  lofmg  the  true  religion,  and  of  being  over- 
run with  the  idolatry  of  their  neighbours.  God  now,  there- 
fore, by  this  ledemption,   feparated  them  as  a  nation  from  all 

other 


Partly.       V/ O  R  K    or    REDEMPTION.  69 

lother  naffens,  to  fubfift  by  themrelves  in  their  own  political 
and  ecclefiaftical  ftate,  without  having  any  concern  with  the 
heathen  nations,  that  they  might  fo  be  kept  fcparatc  until 
Chrift  fiiould  come ;  and  fo  that  the  church  of  Chrifl  might  be 
upheld,  and  might  keep  the  oracles  of  God,  until  that  time; 
that  in  them  might  be  kept  up  thofe  types  and  prophecies  of 
Chrift,  and  thofe  hiftories,  and  other  divine  previous  inflruc- 
tilons,  that  were  neceffary  to  prepare  the  way  for  Ch rift's 
coming. 

II,  As  this  people  were  feparated  to  be  God's  peculiar  peo- 
ple, fo  all  other  people  upon  the  face  of  the  whole  earth  were 
wholly  reje6led  and  given  over  to  heathcnifm.  This,  fo  far  as 
the  providence  of  God  was  concerned  in  it,  belongs  to  the  great 
affair  of  redemption  that  we  are  upon,  and  was  one  thing  that 
God  ordered  in  his  providence  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's 
coming,  and  the  great  falvation  he  was  to  accomplifh  in  the 
world ;  for  it  was  only  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  more  glori- 
ous  and  fignal  vi6loryand  triumph  of  Chrift's  power  and  grace 
over  the  wicked  and  miferable  world,  and  that  Chrift's  lalva- 
tion  of  the  world  of  mankind  might  become  the  more  fenfible. 
This  is  the  account  the  fcripture  itfelf  gives  us  of  the  matter, 
Rom,  xi.  30,  31,  32,  The  apoftle  there  fpeaking  to  the  Gen- 
tiles that  had  formerly  been  heathens,  fays,  "  As  ye  in  times 
paft  have  not  believed  God,  yet  have  now  obtained  mercy 
througli  their  unbelief;  even  fo  have  thefe  alfo  now  not  <be- 
lieved,  that  through  youf  mercy  they  alfo  may  obtain  mercy. 
For  God  hath  concluded  them  all  in  unbelief,  that  he  might 
have  mercy  upon  all."  t,  c.  It  was  the  will  of  God,  that  the 
whole  world,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  fhould  be  concluded  in  vifible 
and  profeffed  unbelief,  that  fo  God's  mercy  and  Chrift's  faK'a- 
lion  towards  them  all  might  be  vifible  and  fenfible.  For  the 
apoftle  is  not  fpeaking  only  of  that  unbelief  that  is  natural  to 
all  God's  profefting  people  as  well  as  others,  but  that  which 
appears,  and  is  vifible ;  fuch  as  the  Jews  fell  into,  when  they 
openly  rejefted  Chrift,  and  ceafed  to  be  a  profeffing  people. 
The  apoftle  obferves,  how  that  firft  the  Gentiles,  even  the 
Gentile  nations,  were  included  in  a  profeffed  unbelief  and  open 
oppofition  to  the  true  religion,  before  Chrift  came,  to  prepare 
the  way  for  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  which  was  foon  after 
Chrift  came,  that  God's  mercy  might  be  the  more  vifible  to 
ihem ;  and  that  the  Jews  vvere  rejeded,   and   apoftatized  from 

the 


7©  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  Taz  Fcriod  !• 

tbe  vifiblc  church,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  callftig  of  the 
J«ws,  which  fhall  be  in  the  latter  days  :  So  that  it  may  be  feen 
of  all  nations,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  that  they  are  vifibly  redeem- 
ed by  Chrift,  from  being  vifibly  aliens  from  the  commoriwealth 
of  Ifrael,  without  hope,  and  without  God  in  the  world. 

We   cannot  certainly  determine  precifely  at  v«rhat   time   the 
apoftafy  of  the  Gentile  nations  from  the  true  God,  or  their  be- 
ing  concluded  in  vifiblc  unbelief,   became   univerfal.      Their 
falling  awty  was  a  gradual   thing,   as  we  obferved  before.     It 
was  general   in  Abraham's  time,  but  not  univerfal  ;  For  then 
we  find  Mclchifedec,   one  of  the  kings  of  Canaan,  was  prieft 
of  the  moft  high  God.     And  after  this  the  true  religion  wai 
kept  up  for  a  while  among  fome  of  the  reft  of  Abraham's  pof- 
tcrity,  befides  the  family  of  Jacob  ;  and  alfo  in  fome  of  the  pof- 
terity  of  Nahor,  as  we  have  in  (lances  of,  in  Job,  and  his  threa 
friends,  and   Elihu.     The  land  of  Uz,  where  Job  lived,  was  a 
land  poirefled  by  the   pofterity  of  Uz,  or  Huz,  the  fon  of   Na- 
hor, Abraham's  brother,  of  whom  we   read,  Gen,    xxii,   21, 
Bildad  the  Shuhitc  was  of  the  offspring  of  Shuah,  Abraham's 
fon  by  Keturah,  Gen.  xxv.  1,  2.  and  Elihu  the  Buzite,  was   of 
Buz  the  fon  of  Nahor,  the  brother  of  Abraham,     So  the   true 
religion  lafted  among  fome  other  people,  befides  the  Ifraelites, 
a  while  after  Abraham.     But  it  did  not   laft  long  :  And  it  is 
probable  that  the  time  of  their  total  rejeflion,  and  giving  up  to 
idoiatry,  was  about  the  time  when  God  feparated  the  children 
of  Ifrael  from  Egypt    to  ferve  him ;  Tor  they  are  often   put  in 
mind  on  that  occafion,  that  God  had  now  feparated  them  to  be 
his  peculiar  people  ;  Or   to  be  diftinguifhed  from  all  other  peo- 
ple upon  earth,  to  be  his  people  alone :  To  be  his  portion,  when 
others  were  rejc6led.     This  fcems  to  hold  forth   thus  much   to 
us,  that  God  now  chofe  them  in  fuch  a  manner,  that  this  vifiblc 
choice  of  them  was  accompanied  with  a  vifible  rejeflion  of  all 
other  nations  in  the  world  ;  that  God  vifibly   came,  and  took 
up  his  refidence  with  them,  as  forfaking  all  other  nations. 

And  fo,  as  the  firft  calling  of  the  Gentiles  after  Chrift  came, 
was  accompanied  with  a  rejeftion  of  the  Jews  ;  fo  the  firft  call- 
ing of  the  Jews  to  be  God's  people,  when  they  were  called  out 
of  Egypt,  was  accompanied  with  a  rejection  of  the  Gentiles. 

Thus  all  the  Gentile  nations  throughout  the  whole  world,  all 
nations,  but  only  the  Ifraelites,  and  thofe  that  embodied  thcm- 
fdves  with  them,   were  left  and  given  up  to  idolatry  ;  and  fo 

continued 


Part  IV.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  71 

continued  a  great  many  ages,  even  from  this  time  until  Chrift 
came,  which  was  about  fifteen  hundred  years.  They  were  con- 
cluded fo  long  a  time  in  unbelief,  that  there  might  be  a  thor- 
ough proof  of  the  neceflity  of  a  faviour  ;  that  it  might  appear 
by  fo  long  a  trial,  paft  all  contradiftion,  that  mankind  were  ut- 
terly infufficient  to  deliver  themfelves  from  that  grofs  darkncfs 
and  mifery,  and  fubjeftion  to  the  devil,  that  they  had  fallen  un- 
der ;  that  it  might  appear  that  all  the  wifdom  of  the  philofo- 
phers,  and  the  wifefl  men  that  the  heathen  had  among  them, 
could  not  deliver  them  from  their  darknefs,  for  the  greater  glory 
to  Jefus  Chriftj  who,  when  he  came,  enlightened  and  delivered 
them  by  his  glorious  gofpel.  Herein  the  wonderful  wifdom  of 
God  appeared,  in  thus  preparing  the  way  for  Chrift*s  redemp- 
tion. This  the  fcripture  teaches  us,  as  in  i  Cor.  i.  21,  «  For 
after  that,  in  the  wifdom  of  God,  the  world  by  wifdom  knew 
not  God,  it  pleafed  God  by  the  foolilhnefs  of  preaching  to  favc 
them  that  believe." 

Here  I  might  confider  as  another  work  of  God,  whereby  the 
general  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on,  that  wonderful  de- 
liverance which  he  wrought  for  the  children  of  Ifrael  at  the 
Red  Sea,  when  they  were  purfuedby  the  hofls  of  the  Egyptians, 
and  were  juft  ready  to  be  fwallowed  up  by  them,  there  being, 
to  human  appearance,  no  pofTibility  of  an  efcape.  But  as  this 
may  be  referred  to  their  redemption  out  of  Egypt,  and  confider* 
cd  as  a  part  of  that  more  geHeral  work,  I  fhall  not  further  en- 
large upon  it, 

in.  The  next  thing  that  I  Ihall  take  notice  of  here,  that  was 
done  towards  the  work  of  redemption,  is  God's  giving  the  mor- 
al law  in  fo  awful  a  manner  at  Mount  Sinai.  This  was  anoth- 
er new  thing  that  God  did,  a  new  flep  taken  in  this  great  affair, 
Dcut.  iv.  33.  "  ^  Did  ever  a  people  hear  the  voice  of  God 
fpeaking  out  of  the  midfl  of  the  fire,  as  thou  had  heard,  and 
live?"  And  it  was  a  great  thing  that  God  did  towards  this  work, 
and  that  whether  we  confider  it  as  delivered  as  a  new  exhibi- 
tion of  the  covenant  of  works,  or  given  as  a  rule  of  life. 

The  covenant  of  works  was  here  exhibited  to  be  asr  a  fchool- 
mafter  to  lead  to  Chrift,  not  only  for  the  ufe  of  that  nation  in 
the  ages  of  the  Old  Teftament,  but  for  the  ufe  of  God's  church 
throughout  all  ages  of  the  world  ;  as  an  inftrument  that  the 
great  Redeemer  makes  ufe  of  to  convince  men  of  their  fin  and 
jfr-ifcry,  and  helplefs  flatc,  and  of  God's  av/fal  and  trerruendoui 

m-djefty 


7.a  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  L 

jiiajefty  and  juftice  as  a  lawgiverj  and  fo  to  make  men  fenfible 
of  the  neceflity  of  Chrift  as  a  faviour.  The  work  of  redemp- 
tion, in  Its  faving  affe£l  on  men's  fouls,  in  all  the  progrefs  of  it 
to,  the  end  of  it,  is  not  carried  on  without  the  ufe  of  this  law 
that  was  now  delivered  at  Sinai. 

it  was  given  in  an  awful  manner,  with  a  terrible  voice,  ex- 
ceedingly lOud  and  awful,  fo  that  all  the  people  that  were  in  the 
camp  trembled  ;  and  Mofes  himfelf,  though  fo  intimate  a  friend 
of  God,  yet  faid,  1  exceedingly  fear  and  quake  ;  the  voice  be- 
ing accompanied  with  thunders  and  lightnings,  the  mountain 
burning  with  fire  to  the  midft  of  heaven,  and  the  earth  itfelf 
Shaking  and  trembling  ;  to  make  all  fenfible  how  great  that  au- 
thority, power,  and  juilice  was,  that  flood  engaged  to  exaft  the 
fulfilment  of  this  law,  and  to  fee  it  fully  executed  ;  and  how 
ftriftly  God  would  require  the  fulfilment  ;  and  how  terrible  his 
w^rath  would  be  againft  every  breaker  of  it  ;  that  men  being 
fenfible  of  thefe  things,  might  have  a  thorough  trial  of  them- 
lelves.  and  might  prove  their  own  hearts,  and  know  how  im- 
poflible  it  is  for  them  to  have  falvation  by  the  works  of  the  law, 
and  might  fee  the  abfoiute  necefTity  they  flood  in  of  a  mediator. 
If  we  regard  this  law  now  given  at  Mount  Sinai,  not  as  the 
covenant  of  works,  but  as  a  rule  of  life  ;  fo  it  is  made  ufe  of  by 
the  Redeemer,  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  the  world,  as  a  di- 
letlory  to  his  people,  to  fhow  them  the  way  in  which  they  mufl 
walk  as  they  would  go  to  heaveti  :  For  a  way  of  fincere  and 
univerfal  obedience  to  this  law  is  the  narrow  way  that  leads 
to  life. 

IV.  The  next  thing  that  is  obfervable  in  this  period,  was 
God's  giving  the  typical  law,  in  which  I  fuppofe  to  be  included 
molt  or  all  thofe  precepts  that  were  given  by  Mofes,  that  did  not 
properly  belong  to  the  moral  law  ;  not  only  thofe  laws  that  arc 
commonly  called  ceremonial,  in  diflin6lion  from  judicial  laws, 
which  are  the  laws  prefcribing  the  ceremonies  and  circumflances 
of  the  Jewifh  worfhip,  and  their  ecclefiaflical  flate  ;  but  alfo 
many,  if  not  all  thofe  divine  laws  that  were  political,  and  for 
regulating  the  Jewifh  commonwealth,  commonly  called  judicial 
laws  ;  thefe  were  at  bed  many  of  them  typical.  The  giving 
this  typical  law  was  another  great  thing  that  God  did  in  this 
period,  tending  to  build  up  this  glorious  flru6lure  of  redemption 
that  God  had  been  carrying  on  from  the  beginning  of  the  world. 
There  had  been  many  typical  events  of  providence  before,  that 

reprefented 


Part  IV.      W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.         73 

rcprefented  Chrift  and  his  redemption,  and  fome  typical  ordi- 
nances, as  particularly  thofe  two  of  facrifices  and  circumcifion  : 
But  now,  initead  of  reprefenting  the  great  Redeemer  in  a  few 
inftitutions,  God  gives  forth  a  law  full  of  nothing  elfe  but  va- 
rious and  innumerable  typical  reprefentations  of  good  things  to 
come,  by  which  that  nation  were  directed  how,  every  year, 
month,  and  day,  in  their  religious  a6lions,  and  in  their  conduft 
of  thamfelves,  in  all  that  appertained  to  their  ecclefiaflical  and 
civil  ftate,  to  (how  forth  fomething  of  Chrift  ;  one  obfervance 
fhowing  one  thing,  exhibiting  one  doftrine,  or  one  benefit  ; 
another,  another  :  So  that  the  whole  nation  by  this  law  was,  as 
it  were,  conftituted  in  a  typical  ftate.  Thus  the  gofpel  was 
abundantly  held  forth  to  that  nation  ;  fo  that  there  is  fcarce 
any  doftrine  of  it,  but  is  particularly  taught  and  exhibited  by 
fome  obfervance  of  this  law  ;  though  it  was  in  fhadows^  and  un- 
der a  vqil,  as  Mofes  put  a  veil  on  his  face  when  it  fhone. 

To  this  typical  law  belong  all  the  precepts  that  relate  to  build- 
ing the  tabernacle,  that  was  fet  up  in  the  wilderriefs,  and  all  the 
form,  circumftances,  and  utenfils  of  it. 

V.  About  this  time  was  given  to  God's  church  the  firft  writ- 
ten word  of  God  that  ever  was  enjoyed  by  God's  people.  This 
was  another  great  thing  done  towards  the  affair  of  redemption,  4> 

a  new  and  glorious  advancement  of  the  building.  Not  far 
from  this  time,  was  the  beginning  of  the  great  written  rule, 
which  God  has  given  for  the  regulation  of  the  faith,  worfhip^ 
and  praftice  of  his  church  in  all  ages  henceforward  to  the  end 
of  the  world  ;  which  rule  grew,  and  was  added  to  from  that 
time,  for  many  ages,  until  it  was  finiflied,  and  the  canon  of 
fcripture  completed  by  the  apoftle  John.  It  is  not  very  ma- 
terial, whether  the  firft  written  word  that  ever  was,  was  the  ten 
commandments  written  on  the  tables  of  ftone  with  the  finger  of 
God,  or  the  book  of  Job  ;  and  whether  the  book  of  Job  was 
yrritten  by  Mofes,  as  fome  fuppofe,  or  by  Elihu,  as  others.  If 
;t  w.as  written  by  Elihu,  it  was  written  before  this  period  that 
we  are  now  upon  ;  but  yet  could  not  be  far  from  it,  as  appears 
by  confidering  whofe  poftcrity  the  perfons  were  that  are  fpoken 
of  in  jt,  together  with  Job's  great  age,  that  was  paft  before  this 
wa^  'written. 

The  written  word  of  God  is  the  main  inftrument  Chrift  has 
made  ufe  of  to   carry  on  his  work  of  redemption  in  all  ages 
fince  it  was  given.     There  was  a  neceftity  now  of  the  word  of 
I  God's 


74  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  thb  Period  f. 

God's  feeing  committed  to  writing,  for  a  fteady  rule  to  God's 
church.  Before  this,  the  church  had  the  word  of  God  by  tra- 
dition, cither  by  immediate  tradition  from  eminent  men  that 
•were  infpired,  that  were  then  living,  (for  it  was  a  common 
thing  in  thofe  days,  befoix  there  was  a  written  word,  for  God 
to  reveal  himfelf  immediately  to  eminent  perfons,  as  appears  by 
the  book  of  Job,  and  many  other  things  that  might  be  mention* 
ed,  in  thd  book  of  Genefis,)  or  elfe  they  had  it  by  tradition 
from  former  generations,  which  might  be  had  with  tolerable 
certainty  in  ages  preceding  this,  by  reafon  of  the  long  lives  of 
men.  Noah  might  convcrfe  with  Adam,-  and  receive  traditions 
from  him  ;  and  Noah  lived  until  about  Abraham's  time  :  And 
the  fons  of  Jacob  lived  a  confiderable  time  to  deliver  the  rev- 
clarions  made  to  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,-  to  their  pofterity 
in  Egypt.  But  the  diftance  from  the  beginning  of  things  was 
become  fo  great,  and  the  lives  of  men  become  fo  Ihort,  being 
biought  down  to  ths  prefent  ftandard  about  Mofes's  time,  and 
God  having  now  feparated.  ^nation  to  be  a  peculiar  people, 
partly  for  that  end  to  be  the  keepers  of  the  oracles  of  God  ; 
God  faw  it  to  be  a  needful  and  convenient  time  now  to  commit 
iiis  word  to  writing,,  to  remain  henceforward  for  a  fleady  rule 
throughout  all  ages,.  And  therefore,  befides  the  book  of  Job^ 
Chrifl  wrote  th^s.  ten  commandments  on  tables  of  ftone,  with 
his  own  fingJir  ;  and  after  this  the  whole  law,  as  containing  the 
fubftance  of  the  five  books  of  Mofes,  was  by  God's  fpecial  com- 
mand committed  to  writing,  which  was  called  Me  bock  of  the  latuy. 
and  was  laid  up  in  the  tabernacle,  to  be  kept  tliere  for  the  ufe 
of  the  church  ;  as  you  may  fee,  Deut.  xxxi.  24,  25,  26. 

V/I.  God  was  pleafed  now  wonde-rfully  to  reprefent  the  prog- 
rcfs  of  his  redeemed  church  through  the  world  to  their  eternal 
inheritance,  by  the  journey  of  the  children  of  Ifrael  through 
the  wildernefs,  from  Egypt  to  Canaan.  Here  all  the  various' 
fteps  of  the  redemption  of  the  church  by  Chrifl  were  reprefent- 
cd,  from  the  beginning  to  its  confummation  in  glory.  The 
ftate  they  are  redeemed  from  is  reprefented  by  Egypt,  and  their 
bondage  there,  which  they  left.  The  purchafe  of  their  redemp- 
tion was  reprefented  by  the  facrifice  of  the  pafchal  lamb,  which 
Was  offered  up  that  night  that  God  flew  all  the  firft  born  of 
Egypt.  The  beginning  of  the  application  of  the  redemption  of 
Chrifl's  church  in  their  converfion,  was  reprefented  by  Ifrael's 
$oing  -out  of  Egypt,  and  palTmg  through  the  Red  Sea  in  fo  ex- 

traordinai-y 


fartlV.    WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  75 

traordinary  and  miraculous  a  manner.     The  travel  of  the  church 
•through  this  evil  world,  and  the  various  changes  through  which 
the  church  paffes,  in  the  different  ftages  of  it,  was  reprefented 
by  the  journey  of  the  Ifraelites  through  the  wildernefs.     The 
.jnanner  of  their  being  conduced  by  Chrift,  was  reprefented  by 
the  Ifraelites  being  led  by  the  pillar  of  cloud  by  day,   and   the 
pillar  of  lire  by  night.     The  manner  of  the  ch,urch's  being  fup- 
ported  in  their  progrefs,  and  fupplied  from  the  beginning  to  the 
'€nd  of  it,   with  fpiritual  food,  and  continual  daily  cor^munica- 
tions  from  God,  was  reprefented  by  God's  fupplying  the  chil- 
dren of  I  frael  with  bread,  or  7nanna,  from   heaven,   and  water 
out  of  the  rock.     The  dangers  that  the  faints  muft  meet  with 
in  their  courfe  through  the  world,  were  reprefented  by  the  fiery 
flying  .ferpcnts  which  the  children  of  Ifrael  met  with  in  the 
wildernefs.     The  confliQ;s  the  church  has  with   her  enemies^ 
were  reprefented  by  their  battle  with  the  Amalekites,  and  others 
they  met  with  there.     And  fo  innumerable  other  things  might 
4be  mentioned,   wherein  the   things  they  met  with   were   lively 
images  of  things  which  the  .church  and  faints  meet  with  in  all 
ages  of  the  world.     That  thefe  things  are  typical  of  things  that 
pertain  to  the  Chriftian  church,   is  manifeft  from  i  Cor.  x.  11, 
*'  Now  all  thefe  things   happened  unto  them  from  enfamples, 
and  they  were  written   for  our  admonitionj  upon  whom   the 
ends  of  the  world  are  come,"     H«re  the  apoftle  is  fpeaking  of 
thofe  very  things  which  we  have  now  mentioned,  and  he  fay^ 
cxprefsly,  tliat  they  happened  unto  them  for  types  j  fo  it  is  iu 
the  original. 

VII,  Another  thing  here  muff  not  be  emitted,  which  was  a 
great  and  remarkable  difpenfation  of  providence,  refpefting  the 
whole  world  of  mankind,  which  was  finifhed  in  this  period  ;, 
and  that  was,  the  §iortening  the  days  of  man's  life,  whereby  it 
was  brought  down  from  being  between  nine  hundred  and  a 
thoufand  years,  to  be  but  about  feventy  or  eighty.  The  life  of 
man  began  to  be  fhortened  immediately  after  the  flood  :  It  was 
brought  down  the  iirfb  generation  to  fix  hundred  years,  and  the 
next  to  between  four  and  five  hundred  years  ;  and  fo  the  life 
of  man  gradually  grew  fhorter  and  fhorter  ;  until  about  th« 
time  of  the  great  mortality  that  was  in  the  congregation  of  If- 
rael, after  they  had  murmured  at  the  report  of  the  fpies,  and 
their  carcaffes  fell  in  the  wildernefs,  whereby  all  the  men  of 
W3.r  died  ;  and  then  the  life  Ot  man  was  reduced  to  its  prefent 

i[landard. 


76  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  I. 

ftandard,  as  Mofes  obferves  in  that  pfalm  that  he  wrote  on  oc- 
cafion  of  that  mortality  :  Pfal,  xc.  lo.  "  The  dayS^  of  our  years 
are  threefcore  years  and  ten  ;  and  if  by  reafon  of  ftrength  they 
be  fourfcore  years,  yet  is  their  flrength  labour  and  forrow  :  For 
it  is  Toon  cut  off,  and  we  fly  away." 

This  great  difpenfation  of  God  tended  to  promote  the  grand 
defign  of  the  redemption  of  Chrift.  Man's  life  being  cut  fp 
very  fhort  in  this  world,  tended  to  prepare  the  way  for  poor, 
mortal,  fhortiived  men,  the  more  joyfully  to  entertain  the  glad 
tidipgs  of  everlafting  life  in  another  world,  that  are  brought  to 
light  by  the  gofpel  ;  and  more  readily  to  embrace  a  faviour,  that 
purchafes  and  offers  fuch  a  blofiing.  If  men's  lives  were  ftill 
commonly  about  nine  hundred  years,  ^  How  much  lefs  would 
they  have  to  move  them  to  regard  the  proffers  of  a  future  life  ; 
how  much  greater  temptation  would  they  have  to  reft  in  the 
things  of  this  world,  they  being  of  fuch  long  continuance,  and 
to  negleQ;  any  other  life  but  this  ?  This  probably  contributed 
greatly  to  the  wickednefs  of  the  antediluvians.  But  now,  ^  How 
much  greater  motives  have  men  to  feek  redemption,  and  a  bet- 
ter life  than  this,  by  the  great  Redeemer,  fince  the  life  of  man 
is  not  one  twelfth  part  of  what  it  ufed  to  be,  and  men  now. 
univerfally  die  at  the  age  when  n>en  formerly  ufed  to  be  but  as 
it  v/ere  fetting  out  in  the  world  ? 

Vni,  The  fame  work  was  carried  on  in  preferving  that  peo- 
ple, of  whom  Chrifl  was  to  come,  from  totally  perifhing  in  the 
wildernefs,  by  a  conftant  miracle  of  forty  years  continuance. 
I  obfcrvcd  before  many  times,  how  God  preferved  thofe  of 
whorri  the  Redeemer  was  to  proceed  in  a  very  wonderful  man- 
ner ;  as  he  preferVed  Noah  and  his  family  from  the  flood ;  and 
as  he  preferved  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  with  their  families, 
from  the  wicked  inhabitants  of  Canaan  ;  and  as  he  preferved 
Jacob  and  his  family  froiti  perifhing  by  the  famine,  by  Jofeph 
in  Egypt.  But  tliis  prefervation  of  the  children  of  Ifrael  for  fo 
long  a  time  in  the  wildernefs,  was  on  fome  accounts  more  re- 
markable than  any  of  them  ;  for  it  was  by  a  continual  miracle 
of  fo  lonF  duration.  There  was,  as  may  be  fairly  computed,  at 
firiT.  two  millions  of  fouls  in  that  congregation,  that  could  not 
fubfift  any  better  without  meat  and  drink  than  other  men. 
But  if  this  had  begn  withheld,  they  muft  all  have  periflied,  ev- 
ery man,  woman,  and  child,  in  lefs  than  one  month's  time,  fo 
that  there  would  not  have  been  one  of  them  left.     But  yet  tkis 

vail 


Part  IV.       WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  77 

vaft  multitude  fubfifled  for  forty  years  together,  in  a  dry  barren 
wildernefs,  without  fowing  or  reaping,  or  tilling  any  land,  hav- 
ing their  bread  daily  rained  down  to  them  out  of  heaven,  «ind 
being  furnifhed  with  water  to  fatisfy  them  all,  out  of  a  rock  ; 

_  and  the  fame  clothes  with  which  they  came  out  of  Egypt,  laft- 
ing,  without  wearing  out  all  that  time.  Never  was  any  inftance 
like  this,  of  a  nation  being  fo  upheld  for  fo  long  a  time  togetlj- 
er.  Thus  God  upheld  his  church  by  a  continual  miracle,  and 
kept  alive  that  people  in  whom  was  the  blefling,  the  proralfed 
feed,  and  great  Redeemer  of  the  world. 

IX.  God  was  pleafed,  in  this  time  of  the  children  of  Ifracl's 
being  in  the  wildernefs,  to  give  a  further  revelation  of  Chrift 
the  Redeemer   in  the  predi^lions  of  him,  than  had  been  before. 

•  Here  are  three  prophecies  given  at  this  time  that  I  would  take 
notice  of.  The  firft  is  that  of  Balaam,  Numb.  xxiv.  17,  18,  19. 
*»  1  fhall  fee  him,  but  not  now  ;  I  fhall  behold  him,  but  not 
nigh  :  There  fhall  come  a  Star  out  of  Jacob,  and  a  Sceptre  fhall 
rife  out  of  Ifrael,  and  fhall  fmite  the  corners  of  Moab,  and 
deflroy  all  the  children  of  Shcth.  And  Edom  fhall  be  a  pof- 
fefhon,  Seir  alfo  fhall  be  a  poiTefTion  for  his  enemies,  and  Ifrael 
Ihall  do  valiantly.  Out  of  Jacob  fhall  come  he  that  fhall  have 
dominion,  and  fhall  deflroy  him  that  remaineth  of  the  city.?* 
This  is  a  plainer  prophecy  of  Chrifl,  efpecially  with  regard  to 
his  kingly  office,  than  any  that  had  been  before.  But  we  have 
another,  that  God  gave  by  Mofes,  that  is  plainer  flill,  efpecially 
with  regard  to  his  prophetical  ofHce,  in  Deut.  xviii.  i8.  &c. 
**  I  will  raife  up  a  prophet  from  among  their  brethren,  like  un- 
to thee,  and  will  put  my  words  in  his  rilouth,  and  he  fhall  fpeak 
unto  them  all  that  I  command  him,"  &c.  This  is  a  plainer 
prophecy  of  Chrik  than  any  that  had  been  before,  in  this  rc- 
fpe6l,  that  all  the  prophecies  that  had  been  before  of  Chrift, 
were  in  figurative  rnyftical  language.  The  firft  prophecy  was 
fo,  That  the  feed  of  the  woman  fhould  bruife  the  ferpent's  head. 
The  promifes  made  to  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  J^tob,  *«  That  in 
their  feed  all  the  families  of  the  earth  fhould  be  bleffcd,"  were 
alfo  rnyftical  ;  which  prophecy  is  not  fo  particular,  becaule  the 
expreffion,  thy  feed,  is  general,  and  not  plainly  limited  to  any 
particular  perfon.  The  prophecy  of  Jacob  in  blefTmg  Judaii, 
Gen.  xlix.  8.  is  in  rnyftical  language  ;  and  fo  is  that  of  Balaam, 
which  fpeaks  of  Chrift  under  the  figurative  expirefUon  of  a/^r* 


-8  ^    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP  THB  Period  1, 

But  this  is  a  plain  prophecy,   without  being  veiled  in  any  myf- 
tical  language  at  all. 

fhere  are  feveral  things  contained  in  this  prophecy  of  Chrift, 
Here  is  his  mediatorial  office  in  general,  vet*.  16.  Here  it  is 
revealed  how  he  fhould  be  a  perfon  to  (land  between  them  and 
God,  that  was  lo  terrible  a  being,  a  being  of  fuch  awful  majef- 
ty,  holinefs,  and  juftice,  that  they  could  not  have  come  to  him, 
and  have  intercourfc  with  him  immediately,  without  a  mediator 
to  (land  between  them  ;  becaufe,  if  they  came  to  fuch  a  dread- 
ful fin  revenging  God  immediately,  they  fhould  die  ;  God 
would  prove  a  confuming  fire  to  them.  And  then  here  is  a 
particular  revelation  of  Chrift  with  refpe£i  to  his  prophetical 
office  :  "  I  will  raife  them  up  a  prophet  from  among  their 
brethren,  like  unto  thee,"  &c.  And  further,  it  is  revealed 
what  kind  of  a  prophet  he  fhould  be,  a  prophet  like  Mofes, 
who  was  the  he^id  and  leader  of  all  the  people,  and  who,  under 
4^od,  had  been  their  redeemer,  to  bring  them  out  of  the  houfe 
of  bondage,  was,  as  it  were,  their  ftiepherd  by  whom  God  led 
them  through  the  Red  Sea  and  wildernefs,  and  was  an  inter- 
.ceffor  for  them  with  God,  and  was  both  a  prophet  and  a  king 
in  the  congregation  ;  for  Mofes  had  the  power  of  a  king  among 
them.  It  is  faid  of  him,  Deut,  xxxiii.  5.  He  was  king  in  Jefh- 
urun,  and  he  was  the  prophet  by  whom  God  as  it  were  built 
xip  his  church,  and  delivered  his  inftruftions  of  worfhip.  Thus 
Chrifl  was  to  be  a  prophet  like  unto  Mofes  ;  fo  that  this  is  both 
^he  plained  and  fuUefl  prophecy  of  Chrift  that  ever  had  been 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  this  time. 

The  next  prophecy  that  I  Ihall  take  notice  of,  refpefts  only 
the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  which  fhould  be  after  Chrift's  com- 
ing, of  which  God  gave  a  very  plain  prophecy  by  Mofes  in 
the  wildernefs,  Deut.  xxxii.  21.  Here  is  a  very  plain  prophe- 
cy of  the  rejeQ:ion  of  the  Jews  and  calling  the"  Gentiles. 
They  moved  God  to  jealoufy  by  that  which  was  not  a  god,  by 
calling  him  dOf^  and  taking  other  gods,  that  were  no  gods,  in 
his  room.  So  God  declares  that  he  will  move  them  to  jealoufy 
in  the  like  manner,  by  cafting  them  oif,  and  taking  other  people, 
that  had  not  been  his  people,  in  their  room.  The  Apoftle  Paul 
takes  notice  of  this  prophecy,  as  foretelling  the  calling  of  the 
Gentiles,  in  Rom.  x.  ig,  20.  "  But  I  fay,  ^  Did  not  Ifrael  know  ? 
Firft,  Mofes  faith,  I  will  provoke  you  to  jealoufy  by  them  that 
are  no  people,  and  by  a  foolifh  nation  I  will  anger  you.     But 

Efaias 


Part  IV.      W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  79 

Efaias  is  very  bold,  and  faith,  I  was  found  of  them  that 
fought  me  not  ;  I  was  made  manifefl  to  them  that  afkcd  not 
after  me.'* 

Thus  you  fee  how  the  light  of  the  gofpcl,  which  firft  began 
to  dawn  and  glimmer  immediately  after  the  fall,  gradually  in* 
creafes  the  nearer  we  come  to  Chrift's  time. 

X.  Another  thing  by  which  God  carried  on  this  work  in 
this  time,  was  a  remarkable  pouring  out  of  his  fpirit  on  the 
young  generation  in  the  wildernefs.  The  generation  that  was 
grown  up  when  they  came  out  of  Egypt,  from  twenty  years 
©Id  and  upward,  was  a  very  froward  and  pervcrfe  generation. 
They  were  tainted  with  the  idolatry  and  wickedncfs  of  Egypt, 
and  were  not  weaned  from  it,  as  the  prophet  Ezekiel  takes  no- 
tice, Ezek.  XX.  6,  7,  8.  Hence  they  made  the  golden  calf  in 
imitation  of  the  idolatry  of  Egypt,  that  was  wont  to  worfhip  a 
bull  or  an  ox  ;  and  therefore  cattle  are  called  the  abomination  of 
the  Egyptians,  i.  e,  their  idol.  This  generation  God  was  ex- 
ceeding angry  with, .  and  fwOre  in  his  wrath,  that  they  (hould 
not  enter  into  his  reft.  But  the  younger  generation  were  not 
fo  ;  the  generation  that  were  under  twenty  years  old  when  they 
came  out  of  Egypt,  and  thofe  that  were  born  in  the  wildernefs, 
the  generation  fpoken  of,  Numb.  xiv.  31 .  "  But  your  litjle  ones, 
whom  ye  faid  fhould  be  a  prey,  them  will  1  bring  in  ;  and  they 
fliall  know  the  land  that  ye  have  defpifed."  This  was  the 
generation  with  whom  the  covenant  was  renewed,  as  we  have 
an  account  in  Deuteronomy,  and  that  entered  into  the  land  of 
Canaan,  This  generation  God  was  pieafed  to  make  a  genera- 
tion to  his  praife,  and  they  were  eminent  for  piety  ;  as  appears 
by  many  things  faid  in  fciipture  about  them  ;  as,  particularly, 
Jer.  ii,  2,  3,  "  I  remember  thee,  the  kindncfs  of  thy  youth,  the 
love  of  thine  efpoufals,  when  thou  wenteft  after  me  in  the  wil- 
dernefs, in  a  land  that  was  not  fown.  Ifrael  was  holinefs  to 
the  Lord,  and  the  firft  fruits  of  his  increafe."  Here  the  gen- 
eration that  went  after  God  in  the  wildernefs,  is  fpoken  of  with 
very  high  commendations,  as  eminent  for  hjolinefs  :  "  Ifrael 
was  holinefs  to  the  Lord,  and  the  firft  fruits  of  his  increafe." 
And  their  love  to  God  is  fpoken  of  as  diftinguifhed  like  the 
love  of  a  bride  at  her  efpoufals.  The  going  after  God  in  the 
wildernefs  that  is  here  fpoken  of,  is  not  the  going  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Ifrael  out  of  Egypt  into  the  wildernefs  of  Sinai,  but 
their  following  God  through  that  dreadful  wildernefs,   that  the 

congregation 


So  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    THE  Period  I.l 

congregation  Jong  wandered  in,  after  they  went  back  from  Ka- 
defhbarnea,  which  is  fpoken  of,  Deut.  viii.  15,  "  Who  led  thee 
through  the  great  and  terrible  wilder nefs,  wherein  were  fiery 
fer pents  and  fcorpions,  and  drought,  where  there  was  no  wa- 
ter." Tlipugh  this  generation  had  a  much  greater  trial,  than 
the  generation  of  their  fathers  had. before  they  came  to  Kadefli- 
barnea,  yet  they  never  murmured  againft  God  in  any  wife,  as 
their  fathers  had  done  :  But  their  trials  had  a  contrary  effeft 
upon  them,  to  awaken  them,  convince,  and  humble  them,  and 
fit  them  for  great  mercy.  They  were  awakened  by  thofe  awful 
judgments  of  God  that  he  infli6led  on  their  fathers,  whereby 
their  carcafles  fell  in  the  wildernefs.  And  God  poured  out  his 
fpirit  with  thofe  awakening  providences  toward  their  fathers, 
and  their  own  travel  in  the  wildernefs,  and  the  word  preached 
to  them  by  Mofes  ;  whereby  they  were  greatly  awakened,  and 
made  to  fee  the  badnefs  of  their  own  hearts,  and  were  humbled, 
and  at  length  multitudes  of  them  fa\'ingly  converted  ;  as  Deut. 
viii.  2,  3.  "  And  thou  {halt  remember  the  way  which  the  Lord 
thy  God  led  thee  thefe  forty  years  in  the  wildernefs,  to  humble 
thee,  and  to  prove  thee,  to  know  what  was  in  thine  heart 
whether  thou  wouldeft  keep  his  commandments,  or  no.  And 
he  humbled  thee,"  &c.     And.  ver.  15.  *'  Who  led  thee  through 

that  great  and  terrible  wildernefs,  that  he   might  humble 

thee,  and  that  he  might  prove  thee,  to  do  thee  good  at  thy  lat- 
ter end.'*  And  therefore  it  is  faid,  Hof.  xiii.  5.  "  I  did  know 
thee  in  the  wildernefs,  in  the  land  of  great  drought."  God  al- 
lured them,  and  brought  them  into  that  wildernefsj  and  fpake 
comfortably  to  them,  as  it  was  foretold  that  he  would  do  after- 
wards, Hof.  ii.  14. 

Thofe  terrible  judgments  that  were  executed  in  the  congre- 
gation after  their  turning  back  from  Kadefhbarnea,  in  the  mat- 
ter of  Korah,  and  the  matter  of  Peor,  were  chiefly  on  the  old 
generation,  whom  God  confumed  in  the  wildernefs.  Thofe  re- 
bellions were  chiefly  among  the  elders  of  the  congregation,  who 
were  of  the  older"  generation  that  God  had  given  up  to  their 
hearts  lull  ;  and  they  walked  in  their  own,counfels,  and  God 
was  grieved  with  their  manners  forty  years  in  the  wildernefs. 

But  that  this  younger  congregation  were  eminent  for  piety,  ap- 
pears by  all  their  hiftory.  The  former  generation  were  wicked, 
and  were  followed  with  curfes  ;  but  this  was  holy,  and  wonder- 
ful bleffings  followed  them.     God  did  great  things  for  them  ; 

he 


Part  IV.     W  O  R  K    OF    R,E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  81 

he  fought  for  them,  and  gave  them  the  pofleflion  of  Canaan. 
And  it  is  God's  manner,  when  he  hath  very  great  mercies  to 
beftow  on  a  vifible  people,  firft,  to  fit  them  for  them,  and  then 
to  beftow  them  on  them.  So  it  was  here  :  They  believed  in 
God,  and  by.  faith  overcame  Sihon  and  Og,  and  the  giants  of 
Canaan  ;  and  are  cornmended  for  cleaving  to  the  Lord  :  Jofh. 
xxiii.  8.  *'  Jofhua  fays  unto  them,  Cleave  unto  the  Lord,  as  ye 
have  done  unto  this  day."  And  fo  Ifrael  did  all  the  while  that 
generation  lived.  But  when  Jofliua  and  all  that  generation 
were  dead,  there  arofe  another  generation  that  knew  not  the 
Lord.  This  pious  generation  fhowed  a  laudable  and  fervent 
zeal  for  God  on  feveral  occafions  ;  on  occanon  of  Achan's  fin  ; 
but  efpecially  when  they  fufpefted  the  two  tribes  and  a  half  had 
fet  up  an  altar  in  oppofition  to  the  altar  of  burnt  offering. 
There  never  was  any  generation  of  Ifrael  that  fo  much  good 
and  fo  little  evil  is  mentioned  of,  as  this  generation.  It  is  fur- 
ther obfervable,  that  in  the  time  of  this  generation  was  the  fee- 
ond  general  circumcifion,  whereby  the  reproach  of  Ifrael  was 
fully  rolled  away,  and  they  became  pure  \  and  when  after- 
wards they  were  polluted  by  Achan,  they  purged  themfelves 
again. 

The  men  of  the  former  generation  being  dead,  and  God  hav- 
ing fanftified  this  younger  generation  to  himfelf,  he  folemnly 
renewed  his  covenant  with  them,  as  we  have  a  particular  ac- 
count in  the  xxixth  chapter  of  Deuteronomy.  We  find  that  fuch 
folemn  renovations  of  the  covenant  commonly  accompanied  any 
remarkable  pouring  out  of  the  fpirit,  caufmg  a  general  reform- 
ation :  So  we  find  it  was  in  Hezekiah's  and  JofiaJi's  times.  It 
is  queftionable  whether  there  ever  was  a  time  of  fo  great  a  llour- 
ifliing  of  religion  in  the  Ifraclitifh  church,  as  in  that  generation  ; 
and  as,  in  the  Chriftian  church,  religion  was  in  its  moft  flour- 
ifhing  circumftances  in  the  day  of  its  efpoufals,  or  firft  fetting 
up  of  that  church,  in  the  days  of  the  apoftles,  fo  it  feems  to 
have  been  with  the  Jewifh  church  in  the  days  of  its  firft  eftab- 
lifhment  in  Mofes's  and  Jofhua's  times. 

Thus  God  at  this  time  did  gldrioufty  advance  the  work  of  re- 
demption, both  by  his  word  and  Spirit.  By  this  pouring  out 
of  the  fpirit  of  God,  the  work  of  redemption  was  promoted, 
not  only  as  it  was  in  itfelf  a  glorious  inftance  of  the  carrying  on 
of  that  redemption  in  the  application  of  it,  but  as  this  was  what 
God  made  ufe  of  as  a  means  of  the  good  and  orderly  eftabliflr-t 

K  ment 


82  A    HISTORY    OF  THE  Pci-Ioxi  % 

ment  of  the  church  of  Ifiael  at  its  firft  beginning,  when  it  was- 
fiiil  fettled  in  the  regular  obfervance  of  God's  ordinances  in  Ca- 
naan :  Even  as  the  pouring  out  of  the  fpirit,  in  the  beginning, 
of- the  Chriftian  church,  was  a  great  means  God  made  uTe  of 
for  the  well  eftdbJifking.  the  Chriflian  church  in  the  world  ir* 
all  fucceeding  ages. 

XI.  The  next  thing.  I  would  obferve,  was  God's  bringing  the 
people  of  Ifrael  under  the  hand  of  Jofliua,  and  fettling  them  in 
that  Und  where  Chrift  was  to  be  born,  and  which  was  the  great 
type  of  the  heavenly  Canaan,  whieli  Chrift  has  purehafed. 
This  was  done  by  Joftiua,  who  was  of  Jofeph's  pofterity,  and 
was  an  eminent  type  of  Chrift,  and  is  therefore  called  the  fliep- 
herd,  the  ftone  of  Ifrael,  in  Jacob- s  bleSing, of  Jofeph,  Gcrr* 
xlix.  24.  Being  fuch  a  type  of  Chrift,  he  bore  the  name  of 
Chrift.  Jofnua  and  Jcjus  are  the  fame  name,  only  the  one  is 
Hebrew,  the  other  is  Greek  :  And  therefore,  in:  the  New  Teft- 
ament,  which  was  originally  written  in  Greek,  Jofliuais  called 
Jefus,  A£t:s  vii.  45.  "  Which  alfo  our  fathers  brought  in  with 
Jefus,  i.  e.  Jofliua  ;  Pleb.  iv.  8,  '•  If  Jefus  had  given  them  reft, 
he  would  not  have  fpokenof  another  day  ;"  L  e^  if  Jofliua  had 
given  tlxem  reft, 

God.  wonderfully  poffeffed  his  people  of  this  land,  conquer- 
ing the  forrsei;  inhabitants  of  it,  arjd  the  mighty  giants,  as  Chrift 
conquered  the  devil ;  hrft  conquering  the  great  kings  of  that 
part  of  the  land  that  was  on.  the  eaftern  fide  of  Jordan,  Sihon^ 
king  of  the  Amorites,  and  Og  king  of  Bafhan  ;  and  then  di- 
vidinp-  the  river  Tordan.  as  before  he  had  done  the  Red  Sea  ; 
caufmg  the  walls  of  Jericho  to  fall  down  at  the  found  of  the 
trumpets  of  the  priells  ^  that  found  typifying  the  found  of  the 
gofpel  by  the  preaching  of  gofpel  minifters,  the  walls  of  the  ac- 
curfed  city  Jericho  fig.nifying  the  walk  of  Satan's  kingdom  ; 
and  after  this  wonderfully  deitroying  the  mighty  hoft  of  the 
Amorites  under  the  five  kings,  caufing  the  fun  and  moon  to 
ftand  ftill,  to  help  the  people  againft  their  enemies,  at  the 
prayer  of  the  typical  Jefus  ;  plainly  holding  this  forth,  that 
God  would  make  the  whole  courfe  of  nature  to  be  fubfervient 
to  the  affair  of  redemption  ;  fo  that  every  thing  fhould  yield  to 
the  purpofes  of  that  work,  and  give  place  to  the  welfare  of 
God's  redeemed  people. 

Thus  did   Chrift  fhow  his  great  love  to   his   cle£l,    that   he 
iv'ould  make  the  courfe  of  nature,  in  the  frame  of  the  world^ 

that 


J?«it  XV..      WORK    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  83 

that  he  had  made,  and  that  he  governed,  to  give  place  to  their 
happinefs  and  profperity  ;  and  fnowcd  that,  the  fun  and  moon, 
and  all  things,  viiible  and  invifible,  were  theirs  by  his  purchafc. 
At  the  fame  time,  Chrift  fought  as  the  captain  of  their  hoft, 
and  call:  down  great  hailftones  upon  their  enemies,  by  which 
more  were  flain  than  by  the  fword  of  the  children  of  Ifrael. 
And  after  this  Chrift  gave  the  people  a  might-./  vi6lory  over  a 
yet  greater  army  in  the  northern  part  of  the  land,  that  were 
gathered  together  at  the  waters  of  Merom,  as  the  fand  of  the 
•lea  fhorc,  as  it  is  faid,  Jofli.  xL  4. 

Thus  God  gave  the  people  whence  Chrifl  was  to  |)roceed, 
the  land  where  he  was  to  be  born,  and  live,  and  preach,  and 
work  miracles,  and  die,  and  rife  again,  and  whence  he  was  to 
afcend  into  heaven,  as  the  land  which  was  a  great  type  of  heav- 
en ;  which  is  another  thing  whereby  a  great  advance  was  made 
in  the  affair  of  redemption. 

XII.  Another  thing  that  God  did  towards  carrying  on  this  af- 
fair, was  his  actually  letting  up  his  Hated  worlhip  among  the  peo- 
ple, as  it  had  been  before  inftituted  in  the  wildernefs.  This  wor- 
ihip  was  appointed  at  Mount  Sinai,  wholly  in  fubferviency  to  this 
great  affair  of  redemption.  It  was  to  make  way  for  the  coming 
of  Chrifl  ;  and  the  innumerable  ceremonial  obfervances  of  it 
were  typical  of  him  and  his  redemption.  This  worfhip  was 
chiefly  inftituted  at  Mount  Si-nai  ;  hut  it  was  gradually  fet  up 
in  praftice.  It  was  partly  fct  up  in  the  wildernefs,  where  the 
tabernacle  and  its  vcffels  were  made  ;  but  there  were  many 
parts  of  their  inftituted  worfliip  that  could  not  be  obfcrved  in. 
the  wildernefs,  by  reafon  of  their  unfettled,  itinerant  ftate  there: 
And  then  there  were  many  precepts  that  refpeft  the  land  of 
Canaan,  and  their  cities  and  places  of  habitation  there  ;  which 
therefore  could  not  be  put  in  piaftice,  until  they  came  into  that 
land.  But  now,  when  this  was  brought  to  pafs,  God  fet  up 
his  tabernacle  in  the  midft  of  his  people,  as  he  had  before  prom- 
ifed  them,  Lev.  xxvi.  11.  ■'^  I  will  fet  up  my  tabernacle  amongft 
you."  The  tabernacle  Vv-as  fet  at  Shiloh,  Jofh,  xviii,  i.  and 
the  priefts  and  Levites  had  their  offices  appointed  them,  and 
the  cities  of  refuge  were  appointed  ;  and  now  the  people  were 
in  a  condition  to  obferve  their  feafts  of  the  firft  fruits,  and  their 
feafts  of  ingathering,  and  to  bring  all  their  tithes  and  appointed 
oil'erings  to  the.  Lord  ;  and   moft  parts  of   God's  worfhip  were 

ikt 


84  aHISTORYof  the  Period  I. 

fet  up,   though  there  were  fome  things  that  were  npt   obferved 
until  afterwards.  * 

XIII.  The  next   thing  I   v/ould  take  notice  of,   was  God's 
wonderfully  preferving  that   people,    from    this  time  forward, 
when  all  the  males  went  up,  three  times  in  the  year,  tO  the  place 
where  God's  ark  was.     The  people  of  Ifrael  were  generally  fur- 
rounded  with  enemies,   that  fought  all  opportunities  to  deflroy 
them,  and  difpofifefs  them  of  their  land  ;  and  until  David's  time 
there  were  great  numbers  in  the  land  of  the  remains  of  the  Ca- 
naanites,  and  the  other  former  inhabitants  of  the  land,  that  were 
bitter  enemie?  to  the  people  of  Ifrael  :  And   thefe   had  from 
year  to  year,  three  times  in  the  year,  a  fair  opportunity  of  over- 
running their  country,    and   getting  poffefhon  of  their   cities, 
when  all  the  males  were  gone,    and  only  the  women,    and  thofe 
who  were  not  able  to  go  up,   were  left  behirid.     And  yet  they 
were  remarkably  preferved  throughout  all  generations   at  fuch 
feafons,  agreeable   to   the  promife  th?it  God  had  made,  Exod, 
xxxiv.  24.  "  Neither  fhall  any  man  defire  thy  land,  when  thou 
fhalt  go  up  to  appear  before   the  Lord  thy  God   thrice  in  the 
year,"     So  wonderfully    did  God  order  affairs,  and  influence 
the  hearts  of  their  enemies,  that  though  they  were  fo  full  of  en- 
inity  againfl  Ifrael,  and  defired  to  difpoffefs  them  of  their  land, 
and  had  fo  fair  an  opportunity  fo  often  in  their  hands,  that  the 
whole  country  wijs  left  naked  and  empty  of  all  that  could  refift 
them,  and  it  would  have  been  only  for  them  to  have  gone  and 
taken  poileffion,  and  they  could  have  had  it  without  oppofition, 
and  they  were  fo  eager  to  take  other  opportunities  again  ft  them  ; 
yet  we  never  read,  in  all  their  hiftory,  of  any  of  their  enemies 
taking  thefe  opportunities  againft  them  ;  which  could  be  no  lefs 
than  a  continual  miracle,  that  God,  for  the  prefervation  of  his 
church,  kept  up  for  fo  many  generations,  even  throughout  the 
ages  of  the  Old  Teftament.     It  was  furely  a  wonderful  difpen- 
fation  of  divine  providence  to  maintain  and  promote  God's  great 
defign  of  redemption. 

XIV.  God's  preferving  his  church  and  the  true  religion  from 
"being  wholly  extinct  in  the  frequent  apoftafies  of  the  Ifraelites 
in  the  time  of  the  judges.  How  prone  was  that  people  to  for- 
fake  the  true  God,  that  had  done  fuch  wonderful  things  for 
them,  and  to  fall  into  idolatry  I  and  how  did  the  land,  from  time 
to  time,  feem  to  be  almoft  overrun  with  idolatry  I  But  yet  God 
never  fuffered  his  true  worfliip  to  be  totally  rooted  out  :  His 

tabernacle 


Fart  IV.    WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  85 

tabernacle  ftood,  the  ark  was  preferved,  the  book  of  the  law 
was  kept  from  being  deftroyed,  God's  prieflhood  was  upheld, 
and  God  ftill  had  a  church  among  the  people  j  and  time  after 
time,  when  religion  feemed  to  be  aimoft  gone,  and  it  was  come 
to  the  laft  extremity,  then  God  granted  a  revival,  and  fent  fomc 
angel  or  prophet,  or  Taifed  up  fome  eminent  perfon,  to  be  an 
inllrument  of  their  reformation. 

XV.  Qod's  preferving  that  nation  from  being  deftroyed,  and 
delivering  them  from  time  to  time,  although  they  were  fo  often 
fubdued  and  brought  under  the  dominion  of  their  enemies.  It 
is  a  wonder,  not  only  that  the  frue  religion  was  not  wholly- 
rooted  out,  and  fo  the  church  deftroyed  that  way  ;  but  alfo  that 
the  very  nation  in  which  that  church  was,  was  not  utterly  de- 
ftroyed ;  they  were  fo  often  brought  under  the  power  of  their 
enemies.  One  while  they  were  fubdued  by  Chufhanrifhathaim 
king  of  Mefopotamia,  another  while  they  were  brought  under 
the  Moabites  ;  and  then  they  zocre  Jold  into  the  hand  of  Jabin 
king  of  Canaan  ;  and  then  they  were  under  the  dominion  of 
the  Midianites  ;  and  then  were  forely  diflrelled  by  the  children 
of  Ammon  ;  and  then  by  the  Philifiines.  But  yet  God,  in  all 
thefe  dangers,  preferved  them,  and  kept  them  from  being  wholly 
overthrown  :  And  from  time  to  tjime,  when  it  was  come  to  ex- 
tremity, and  God  faw  that  they  were  upon  the  very  brink  of 
ruin,  then  God  raifed  up  a  deliverer,  agreeable  to  Deut.  xxxii, 
36.  *'  For  the  Lord  fhall  judge  his  people,  and  repent  himfelf 
for  his  fervants  ;  when  he  feeth  their  power  is  gone,  and  there 
is  none  fliut  up  or  left.'' 

Thofe  remarkable  difpenfatlons  of  Providence  are  very  lively 
and  elegantly  fet  forth  by  the  Pfalmift,  Pfal.  cvi.  34.  &c. 

Thefe  deliverers  that  God  raifed  up  from  time  to  time  were 
all  types  of  Chrill,  the  great  redeemer  and  deliverer  of  his 
church  ;  and  fome  of  them  very  remarkably  fo  ;  as,  particular- 
ly, Barak,  Jephthah,  Gideon,  and  Samfon,  in  very  many  par- 
ticulars J  and  above  all  in  the  afts  of  Samfon,  as  might  be  fhown, 
were  it  not  that  this  would  take  up  too  much  time. 

XVI.  It  is  obfcrvable,  that  when  Chrift  appeared  to  manage 
the  affairs  of  his  church  in  this  period,  he  often  appeared  in  the 
form  of,  that  nature  that  he  took  upon  him  in  his  incarnation. 
So  he  feems  to  have  appeared  to  Mofes  from  time  to  time,  and 
particularly  at  that  time  when  God  fpake  to  him  face  to  face, 
•s  a  man  fpeaketh  to  his  friend,  and  he  beheld  the  fimilitude  of 

the 


85  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  r, 

the  Lord  (Numb.  xli.  8,)  after  he  had  befought  him  to  fhow 
him  his  glory  ;  which  was  the  mofl  remarkable  vifion  that  ever 
he  had  of  Chrift.  There  was  a  twofold  difcovcry  that  Mofes 
had  of  Chrifl  :  One  was  fpiritual,  made  to  his  mind,  by  the 
word  that  was  proclaimed,  when  he  proclaimed  his  name,  fay- 
ing, "  The  Lord,  the  Lord  God,  merciful  and  gracious,  long  fuf- 
fcring,  and  abundant  in  goodnefs  and  truth,  keeping  mercy  for 
thoulands,  forgiving  iniquity  and  tranfgreffion  and  fin,  and  that 
will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty  ;  vifiting  the  iniquity  of  the 
fathers  upon  the  children,  and  upon  the  children's  children,  unto 
the  third  and  to  the  fourth  generation,"  Exod.  xxxiv.  6.  &c. 
Another  was  external  ;  which  was  that  which  Mofes  faw, 
when  Chrill  paffed  by,  and  put  him  in  a  cleft  of  the  rock,  and 
covered  him  with  his  hand,  fo  that  Mofes  faw  his  back  parts, 
Wliat  he  law  was  doubtlefs  the  back  parts  of  a  glorious  human 
form,  in  which  Chrift  appeared  to  him,  and  in  all  likelihood 
the  form  of  his  glorified  human  nature,  in  which  he  Ihould  .af- 
terwards appear.  He  faw  not  his  face  ;  for  it  is  not  to  be  fup- 
pofed  that  any  man  could  fubfill  under  a  fight  of  the  glory  of 
Chrift's  human  nature  as  it  now  appears. 

So' it  was  an  human  form  in  which  Chrifl  appeared  to  the 
'  feventy  elders,  of  which  we^ave  an  account,  Exod.  xxiv.  g, 
lo,  11.  "  Then  went  up  Mafes  and  Aaron,  Nadab  and  Abihu, 
and  feventy  of  the  elders  of  Ifrael  :  And  they  faw  the  God  of 
Ifrael ;  And  there  was  under  his  feet,  as  it  were  a  paved  work 
of  a  fapphirc  (tone,  and  as  it  were  the  body  of  heaven  in  his 
clearnefs.  And  upon  the  nobles  of  the  children  of  Ifrael  he 
laid  not  his  hand  :  Alfo  they  faw  God,  and  did  eat  and  drink.'* 
So  Chrift  appeared  afterwards  to  Jofhua  in  the  form>  of  the 
human  nature,  Jofh.  v.  13,  14.  "  And  it  came  to  pafs  when 
Jofhua  was  by  Jericho,  he  lift  up  his  eyes,  and  looked,  and  be- 
hold, there  ftood  a  man  over  againft  him,  with  his  fword  drawa 
in  his  hand  :  And  Jofhua  went  unto  him,  and  faid  unto  him, 
^  Art  thou  for  uSj  or  for  our  adverfaries  ?  And  he  faid.  Nay, 
but  as  captain  of  the  hoft  of  the  Lord  am  I  now  come."  And 
fo  he  appeared  to  Gideon,  Judg.  vi.  11.  &c.  and  fo  alfo  to  Ma- 

noah,  Judg.  xiii.  17 21.     Here  Chrift  appeared  to  Manoah 

in  a  reprefentation  both  of  his  incarnation  and  death  ;  of  his 
incarnation,  in  that  he  appeared  in  a  human  form  ;  and  of  his 
death  and  fufferings,  reprefented  by  the  facrifice  of  a  kid,  and 
by  his  afcending  up  in  the  flame  of  the  facrifice  ;  intimating, 

that 


Part  IV.      W  O  R  K    OF    R  IE  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  87 

that  it  was  he  that  was  the  great  facrifice,  that  muft  be  offered 
up  to  God  for  a  fweet  favour,  in  the  fire  of  his  wrath,  as  that 
kid  was  burned  and  afcended  up  in  the  flame.  Chrift  thus  ap- 
peared, time  after  time,  in  the  form  of  that  nature  he  was  after- 
wards to  take  upon  him  ;  bccaufe  he  now  appeared  on  the  fame 
defign,  and  to  carry  on  the  fame  work,  that  he  was  to  appear  in 
that  nature  to  work  out  and  carry  on,- 

XVII.  Another  thing  I  would  mention,  done  in  this  period 
towards  the  work  of  redemption,  is  the  beginning  of  a  iuccef<^ 
fion  of  prophets,  and  cre6lilig  a  fchool  of  the  prophets,  in  Sam- 
uel's time.  There  was  fomething  of  this  fpirit  of  prophecy  in 
Ifrael  after  Mofes,  before  Samuel.  Jofliua  and  many  of  th# 
judges  had  a  degree  of  it.  Deborah  was  a  prophetefs  ;  and  fomc 
of  the  high  priefts  were  infpired  with  this  fpirit  ;  particularly 
Eli  :  And  that  fpace  of  time  was  not  wholly  without  inltances 
of  thofe  that  were  fet  apart  of  God  efpecially  to  this  office,  and 
fo  were  called  prophets.  Such  an  one  we  read  of,  Judg.  vi.  8. 
«*  The  Lord  fent  a  prophet  unto  the  children  of  Ifrael,  which 
faid  unto  them,"  &c.  Such  an  one  he  feems  to  have  been  that 
we  read  of,  1  Sam,  ii,  27.  "  And  there  came  a  man  of  God  to 
Eli,"  &c.  •  r 

But  there  was  no  fuch  order  of  men  upheld  in  Ifrael  for  any 
conflancy,  before  Samuel  ;  the  want  of  it  is  taken  notice  of  in 
2  Sam,  iii.  1,  "  And  the  word  of  the  Lord  was  precious  in  thofc 
days  ;  there  was  no  open  vilion."  But  in  Samuel  there  was 
begun  a  fucceflion  of  prophets,  that  was  maintained  continually 
from  that  time,  at  leaft  witk  very  little  interruption,  until  the 
fpirit  of  prophecy  ceafed,  about  Malachi's  time  :  And  there- 
fore Samuel  is  fpoken  of  in  the  New  Teftament  as  the  begin- 
ning of  this  fucceffion  of  prophei:s,  At\s  iii,  24.  "  And  all  the 
prophets  from  Samuel,  and  thofe  that  follow  after,  as  many  as 
have  fpoken,  have  foretold  of  thefe  days,"  After  Samuel  was 
Nathan,  and  Gad,  and  Iddo,  and  Heman,  and  Afaph,  and  oth- 
ers. And  afterwards,  in  the  latter  end  of  Solomon's  reign,  we 
read  of  Ahijah  ;  and  in  Jeroboam  and  Rehoboam's  time  we 
read  of  prophets ;  and  fo  continually  one  prophet  fucceedcd 
another,  until  the  captivity.  We  read  in  the  writings  of  thofe 
prophets  that  are  inCerted  into  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures,  of 
prophets  as  being  a  conflant  order  of  men  upheld  in  the  land 
in   thofe  days  :  And  in  the   time  of  tKe  ca^ptivity  there  were 

"Drophets 


85  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    rut  Period  L 

prophets  fllll,  as  Ezekiel  and  Daniel  ;  and  after  the  captivity 
there  were  prophets,  as  Zechariah,  Haggai,  and  Malaehi* 
-  And  becaufe  God  intended  a  conflant  fuccefiion  of  prophets 
from  Samuel's  time,  therefore  in  his  time  was  begun  a  fchool 
of  the  prophets  ;  that  is,  a  fchool  of  young  men,  that  were 
trained  up  under  fome  great  prophet,  who  was  their  mafier 
and  teacher  in  tlie  ftudy  of  divine  things,  and  the  praftice  of 
holinefs,  to  fit  them  for  this  ofhce  as  God  fhould  call  them  to 
it*  Thofe  young  men  that  belonged  to  tbefe  fchools,  were  Call- 
ed the  fons  of  the  prophets  j  and  oftenfimcs  they  are  called  proph^ 
6ts.  Thefe  at  firft  were  under  the  tuition  of  Samuel.  Thus 
Ve  read  of  Samuel's  being  appointed  over  them,  i  Sam.  xix. 
fio.  "  And  when  they  faw  the  company  of  prophets  prophefy- 
ing,  and  Samuel  Itanding  as  appointed  over  them,"  The  com- 
pany of  prophets  that  we  read  of,  i  Sam.  x.  5.  were  the  fame. 
Afterwards  we  read  of  their  being  under  Elijah.  Elifha  was 
one  of  his  fons  ;  but  he  dehred  to  have  a  double  portion  of  his 
fpirit,  as  his  fucceffor,  as  his  firll  born,  as  the  eldell  fon  was 
wont  to  have  a  double  portion  of  the  eftate  of  his  father  ;  and 
therefore  the  fons  of  the  prophets,  when  they  perceived  that 
the  fpirit  of  Elijah  refted  on  Elifha,  fubmitted  themfelv^s  to 
him,  and  owned  him  for  their  mafier,  as  they  had  done  Elijah 
before  him  ;  as  you  may  fee,  2  Kings  il.  15.  <'•  And  when  the 
fons  of  the  prophets  vv'hich  were  to  view  at  Jericho,  faw  him, 
they  faid,  The  fpirit  of  Elijah  doth  reft  on  Elifha.  And  they 
bowed  themfelves  to  the  ground  before  him."'* 

And  fo  after  this  Eliflia  was  their  mailer  or  teacher ;  he  had 
the  care  and  inftrutlion  of  them  ;  as  you  may  fee,  2  Kings  iv. 
38.  "  And  Elifha  came  again  to  Gilgal,  and  there  was  a  dearth 
fn  the  land,  and  the  fons  of  the  prophets  were  fitting  before 
him  :  And  he  faid  unto  his  fervant.  Set  on  the  great  ppt,  and 
fcethe  pottage  for  the  fons  of  the  prophets."  In  Elijah's  and 
Elifha's  time,  there  were  feveral  places  wher«  there  relided 
companies  of  thefe  fons  of  the  prophets  ;  as  there  was  one  at 
Bethel,  and  another  at  Jericho,  and  another  at  Gilgal,  unlefs 
that  at  Gilgal  and  Jericho  were  the  fame  :  And  poflibly  that 
which  is  called  the  college^  where  the  prophetefs  Huldah  refided, 
was  another  at  Jerufalem ;  fee  2  Kings  xxii.  14.  It  is  there 
faid  of  Huldah  the  prophetefs,  that  ««  fhe  dwelt  in  Jerufalem, 
in  the  college."  They  had  houfes  built,  where  they  ufed  to 
dwell  together;  and  therefore  thofe  at  Jericho  being  multipii- 


Part  IV.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  g^ 

cd,  and  Ending  their  houfe  too  little  for  them,  defired  leave  of 
their  mafter  and  teacher  Elifha,  that  they  might  go  and  hew 
timber  to  build  a  bigger ;  as  you  may  fee,  2  Kings  vi,  u  2. 

At  fome  times  there  were  numbers  of  thefe  fons  of  the  proph- 
ets in  Ifrael ;  for  when  Jezebel  cut  off  the  prophets  of  the 
Lord,  it  is  faid,  that  Obadiah  took  an  hundred  of  them,  and 
hid  them  by  fifty  in  a  cave,  i  Kings  xviii.  4. 

Thefe  fchools  of  the  prophets  being  fet  up  by  Samuel,  and 
afterwards  kept  up  by  fuch  great  prophets  as  Elijah  and  Elifha, 
muft  be  of  divine  appointment ;  and  accordingly  we  find,  that 
thofe  fons  of  the  prophets  were  often  favoured  with  a  degree 
of  infpiration,  while  they  continued  under  tuition  in  the  fchools 
of  the  prophets  ;  and  God  commonly,  when  he  called  any 
prophet  to  the  conftant  exercife  of  the  prophetical  office,  and 
to  fome  extraordinary  fervicc,  took  them  out  of  thefe  fchools  ; 
though  not  univerfally.  Hence  the  prophet  Amos,  fpeaking  of 
his  being  called  to  the  prophetical  office,  fays,  that  he  was  one 
that  had  not  been  educated  in  the  fchools  of  the  prophets,  and 
was  not  one  of  the  fons  of  the  prophets,  Amos  vii,  14,  15. 
But  Amos's  taking  notice  of  it  as  remarkable,  that  he  ihould 
be  called  to  be  a  prophet  that  had  not  been  educated  at  the 
fchools  of  the  prophets,  fhows  that  it  was  God's  ordinary  man- 
ner to  take  his  prophets  out  of  thefe  fchools  ;  for  therein  Ire 
did  but  blefs  his  own  inftitution. 

Now  this  remarkable  difpenfation  of  Providence  that  we  are 
upon,  viz,  God's  beginning  a  conflant  fuccefTion  of  prophets  ir. 
Samuel's  time,  that  was  to  lafb  for  many  ages  ;  and  to  that  end, 
eflablifhing  a  fchool  of  the  prophets  under  Samuel,  thencefor- 
ward to  be  continued  in  Ifrael,  was  a  flep  that  God  took  in  that 
great  affair  of  redemption  that  we  are  upon.  For  the  main 
bufinefs  of  this  fucceffion  of  prophets  was,  to  forefhow  Chrift, 
and  the  glorious  redemption  that  he  was  to  accomplilli,  and  fo 
to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming  ;  as  appears  by  that  fore- 
mentioned  place,  A£ls  iii.  24.  and  by  Afts  x.  43,  "  To  him 
give  all  the  prophets  witnefsj"  and  by  Afts  iii.  18.  <«  But  thofe 
things  which  God  before  had  fhewed  by  the  mouth  of  all  his 
prophets,  that  Chrifl  fhould  fuffer,  he  hath  fo  fulfilled." 

As  I  obferved  before,  the  Old  Teflament  time  was  like  a 
time  of  night,  wherein  the  church  was  not  v/ holly  without  light, 
but  had  not  the  light  of  the  fun  direftly,  but  as  reflefted  from 
the  ftars.     Now  thefe  prophets  were  the  flars  that  refle6led  the 


^5P  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THB  Period  I. 

li^htvOf  th«  fun  ;  and  accordingly  they  fpoke  abundantly  of 
Jefus  Chrid, -as  appears  by  what  we  have  of  their  prophecies 
in  writing.  And  they  made  it  very  much  their  bufmefs,  when 
they  ftudied  in  their  fchools  ;or  colleges,  and  elfewhcre,  to 
fcarch  out  the  work  of  redemption  ;  agreeable  to  what  the  a- 
poftle  Peter,  fays  of  them,  i  Pet.  i,  io,  it.  "  Of  which  falvation 
the  prophets  have  inquired,  andfearched  diligently,  who  proph- 
efied  of  the  grace  that  fliould  come  unto  you  ;  fearching 
what,. or  what  manner  of  time  the  fpirLt  of  Chrifl  that  was  in 
them  did  iignify,  when  it  teftrEed  beforehand  the  fuffering^  of 
Chrift,  and  the  glory  that  ihould  follow."  We  are  told,  that 
/the  church  of  the  Redeemer  is  built  on  the  foundation  of  the 
prophets  and  apoftles,  the  Redeemer  himfelf  being  the  chief 
.corner  ftone,  Eph.  ii.  20. 

This  was  the  firft  thing  of  the  nature  that  ever  was  done    in 
the  world ;  and  it  was  a  great  thing  that  God   did   towards  fur- 
ther advancing  this  great  building  of  redemption.     There  had 
ikeen  before  occafional  prophecies  of  Chrift,  as  was  fhown  ;  but 
now  the   time  drawing  nearer  when  the  Redeemer  fliould  come, 
it  pleafed  God  to  appoint  a  certain  order  of  men,  in  conflant 
fucceflion,  whofe  main  bufmefs  it  ihould  be,  to  forefliew  Chrifl 
and^his  redemption,  and  as  his  forerunners   to  prepare  the  way 
for  his  coming  ;  and  God    eftablifhed  fchools,   wherein  multi- 
tudes were  inftrufted  and  trained  up  to  that  er^d,  Rev.  xix.  10. 
<«  1  am  thy  fellow  fervant,  and  of  thy  brethren  that   have  the 
teftimony  of  Jefus ;  for  the  teftimony  of  Jefus  is  the  fpirit  of 
prophecy." 

Part       V. 

irom  David  to  the  Baby louish  Captivitv. 

I  COME  now  to  the  fifth  period  of  the  times  of  the  Old  Tef- 
tament,  beginning  with  David,  and  extending  to  the  Babylanijk 
captivity;  and  would  now  proceed  to  fhow  how  the  work  of 
redemption  was  carried  on  through  this  period  alfo. — And  here, 

1.  The  fir  ft  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of,  is  God's  anointing 
that  perfon  that  was  to  be  the  anceftor  of  Chrift,  to  be  king  qj^x 
his  people.  The  difpenfations  of  Providence  that  have  been 
likAXk  notice  of  through  the  laft  period,  from  Mofes  to  this 

time, 


PaitV,        WORK    or    REDEMPTION.         ^x 

time,  refpert  the  people  whence  Chrift  was-  to  proceed.  But 
now  the  fcripture  hi ftory  leads  us  to  conflder  God's  providence 
towards  that  particulair  perfon  whence  Ghrifl:  was  to  proceed, 
viz.  Daviii.  It  plcafed  God  at  this  time  remarkably  to  feleft 
out  that  perfon  of  whom  Chrift  was  to  come,  from  all  the 
thoufands  of  Ifrael,  and  to  put  a  moft  honourable  mark  of  dif* 
tin£lion  upoa  him,  by  anointing  him  to  be  king  over  his  peo- 
ple. It  was  only  God  that  could  find  him  out.  His  father's 
hoafc  is  fpokcn  of  as  being  little  in  Ifrael,  and  he  was  the  young- 
eft  of  all  the  fons  of  his  father,  and  was  leaft  expelled  to  be  the 
man  that  God  hadchofen,  by  Samuel.  God  had  before,  in  the' 
former  ages  of  the  world,  remarkably  difttnguifhed  the  perfons 
from  whom  Chrifl  was  to  come ;  as  he  did  Seth,  and  Noah, 
and  Abraham,  and  Ifaac,  and  Jacob.  But  the  lail  that  we  have- 
any  account  of  God's  marking  out  in  any  notable  manner,  the 
very  perfon  of  whom  Chrid  Was  to  come,  was  in  Jacob's  blelT- 
ing  his  fon  Judah  ;  unlefs  we  reckon  Nahflion's  advancement 
in  the  wilderners  to  be  the  head  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  But 
this  diflindtion  of  the  perfon  of  whom  Chrift  was  to  comCj  in 
David,  was  very  honourable ;  for  it  was  God's  anointing  him 
to  be  king  over  his  people.  And  there  was  fomething  further 
denoted  by  David's  anointing,  than  was  in  the  anointing  of 
Saul.  God  anointed  Saul  to  be  king  perfonally  ;  but  God  in* 
tended  fomething  further  by  fending  Samuel  to  anoint  David, 
viz.  to  eftablifh  the  crown  of  Ifrael  in  him  and  in  his  family, 
as  long  as  Ifrael  continued  to  be  a  kingdom  ;  and  not  only  fo, 
but  what  was  infinitely  more  flill,  eftablifhing  the  crown  of  his 
univcrfal  church,  his  fpiritual  Ifrael,  in  his  feed,  to  the  end  of 
the  world,  and  throughout  all  eternity. 

This  was  a  great  difpenfation  of  God,  and  a  great  ftep  taken 
towards  a  further  advancing  of  the  work  of  redemption,  ac- 
cording as  the  time  drew  near  wherein  Chrifl  was  to  come. 
David,  as  he  was  the  anceftor  of  Chrift,  fo  he  was  the  greateft 
perfonal  type  of  Chrifl  of  all  under  the  Old  Tcllament.  The 
types  of  Chrifl  were  of  three  forts  ;  types  of  inflitution,  or  in- 
ftituted  types,  and  providential,  and  pcrfonal  types.  The  or- 
.  dinance  of  facrificing  was  the  greatefl  of  the  inflituted  types; 
and  the  redemption  out  of  Egypt  was  the  greatefl  of  the  provi« 
dwitial  types ;  and  David  the  greatefl  of  the  perfonal  types, 
H^cc  Chrifl  is  often  called  David  in  the  prophecies  of  fcrip- 
t'.uc;  as  Ezek,  xxxiv.  23,  24,  «  And  I  will  fet  up  one  fhepherd 

over 


92  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP  THE  Period  I. 

over  them,  and  he  fhall  feed  them,  even  my  fcrvant  Da\  id  : 

My  fcrvant  David  a  prince  among  them  ;'*  and  fo  in  many 
other  places  ;  And  he  is  very  often  fpoken  of  as  the  feed  of 
David,  and  the  fon  of  David. 

David  being  the  anccftor  and  great  type  of  Chrift,  his  ^eing 
folemnly  anointed  by  God  to  be  king  over  his  people,  that  the 
kingdom  of  his  church  might  be  continued  in  his  family  for 
ever,  may  in  fome  refpefts  be  looked  on  as  an  anointing  of 
Chrift  himfelf.  Chrift  was  as  it  were  anointed  in  him  ;  and 
therefore  Chrifl's  anointing  and  David's  anointing  are  fpoken 
of  under  one  in  fcripture,  as  Pfal.  Ixxxix.  20.  "  I  Have  found 
David  my  fervant;  with  my  holy  oil  have  I  anointed  him." 
And  David's  throne  and  Chrift's  are  fpoken  of  as  one  :  Luke 
i.  32.  «« And  the  Lord  fhall  give  him  the  throne  of  his  father 
David.'*  Afts  ii.  30.  «  David — knowing  that  God  had  fworn 
with  an  oath  to  him,  that  of  the  fruit  of  his  loins,  according  to 
the  flcfh,  he  would  raife  up  Chrift  to  fit  on  his  throne." 

Thus  God's  beginning  of  the  kingdom  of  his  church  in  thc- 
houfe  of  David,  was,  as  £t  were,  a  new  eftablifhing  of  the  king- 
dom of  Chrift  ;  the  beginning  of  it  in  a  ftate  of  fuch  vifibility 
as  it  thenceforward  continued  in.  It  was  as  it  were  God's 
planting  the  root,  whence  that  branch  of  righteoufncfs  was  af- 
terwards to  fpring  up,  that  was  to  be  the  evcrlafting  king  of 
his  church ;  and  therefore  this  everlafting  king  is  called  the 
branch  from  the  Jltm  of  Jeffe,  If.  xi.  1.  *'  And  there  fliall  come 
forth  a  rod  out  of  the  ftem  of  JelTe,  and  a  branch  {hall  grow 
out  of  his  roots.'*  Jer,  xxiii.  5.  «  Behold,  the  days  come,  faith 
the  Lord,  that  I  will  raife  up  unto  David  a  righteous  branch, 
and  a  king  fhall  reign  and  profper."  So,  chap,  xxxiii.  15. 
*'  In  thofe  days,  and  at  that  time,  I  will  caufe  the  branch  of 
righteoufncfs  to  grow  up  unto  David,  and  he  fliall  execute 
judgment  and  righteoufncfs  in  the  land."  So  Chrift,  in  the 
New  Teftament,  is  called  thi  root  and  offspring  of  David^  Rev, 
xxii.  i6« 

It  is  obfcrvable,  that  God  anointed  David  after  Saul  to  reign 
in  his  room.  He  took  away  the  crown  from  him  and  his  fam* 
ily,  who  was  higher  in  ftature  than  any  of  his  people,  and  was 
in  their  eyes  fitteft  to  bear  rule,  to  give  it  to  David,  who  was 
low  of  ftature,  and  in  comparifon,  of  defpicable  appearance.- 
So  God  was  pleafed  to  fhow  how  Chrift,  who  appeared  defpi- 
cable, without  form  or  comelinefs^  and  was  defpifcd  and  rejecl* 

ed 


Part  V.       WORK    OF    R  E  D  K  M  P  T  I  O  N.  ^j 

ed  of  men,  fticfiild  take  the  kingdom  from  the  great  ones  of  the- 
earth.  And  alfo  it  is  obfcrvable,  that  David  was  the  youngefl- 
of  Jcffe's  Ions,  as  Jacob  the  younger  brother  fupplanted  Eiau, 
and  got  the  birthright  and  bleffmg  from  him  :  And  as  Pharez, 
another  of  Chrill's  anccftors,  fupplanted  Zarah  in  the  birth; 
atid  as  Ifaac,  another  -of  the  anceftors  of  Chrifl,  cad  out  his 
elder  brother  lihmael ;  thus  was  that  frequent  faymg  of  Chrift 
fulHUcd,  '•  The  lad  fliall  be  hrd,  and  the  iird  laft." 

II.  The  next    thing  I    would  obfcrve,  is  God's  fo  prefervin*'" 
David's  life,  by  a  feries  of  wonderful  providences,  until  Saul's 
tleath.     I  before  took  notice  of  the  wonderful  prefervation  of 
other  particular  pcrfons   that  were  the  ancedors  of  Chrift;  as 
Noah,  Abraham,    Ifaac,   and  Jacob  ;  and  have  obfci  vcd  how, 
in  that  Chrilb  the  great  Redeemer   was  to  proceed,    from  them, 
that  in  their  prefervation,  the  work  of  redemption  itfelf  may  be 
looked  upon  as  preferved   from   being  defeated,  and  the  whole 
church,   which    is    redeemed  through  him,   from   being   over- 
thrown.    But  the  prefervation  of  David  was  no  lefs  remarka- 
ble than  that  of  any  others  that  have  been  already  taken  notice 
of.     How  often  was  it  fo,   that  there  was  but  a  ftep  between 
him  and  death.     The  fird  indance  of  it  we  have  in  his  encoun- 
tering a  lion  and  a  bear,  when  they  had  caught    a  Iamb  out  of 
his  flock,   which,   without  miraculous  afli dance,  could  at  once 
have  rent  this  young  ftripling  in  pieces,  as  they  could  the  lamb 
that  he  delivered   from  them  :  So  afterwards   the  root  and  off- 
fpring  of  David  was  preferved  from  the  roaring  lion  that  goes 
about  feeking   whom  he  may  devour,  and  conquered  him  and 
rcfcued  the  poor  fouls  of  men,  that  were  as  lambs  in  the   mouth 
of  this  lion.     Another  remarkable  indance  was,   in  preferving 
iiim  from   that  mighty  giant  Goliath,  who  was   drong  enough 
to  have  taken  him,  and  picked  him   to  pieces  with  his  fingers, 
and  given  his  flcfh  to  the  beads  of  the   field,  and  to  the  fowls 
of  the  air,  as  he  threatened  him  :  But  God  preferved  him  from 
him,  and  gave  him  the  vi6lory  over  him,  fo  that  he  cut  off  his 
head  v/ith  his  own  fword,  and  made  him  therein  the  deliverer  of 
his  people  ;  as  Chrid  flew  the   fpiritual   Goliath  with  his  own 
weapon,  the  crofs,  and  fo  delivered  his  people.     And  how   re- 
markably did  God  preferve  him  from  being  flairi  by  Saul,  when 
he  fird  fought  his  life,  by  giving  him  his  daughter  to  be  a  fnarc 
to  him,  that  the  hand  of  the  Philidines  might  be  upon  him,  rc- 
i^iijring  him  to  pay  for  her  by  an  hundred  forefkins  of  the  Phi- 
lidines, 


5^  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP  THE  Period  I. 

Xiflincs,  that  To  his  life  might  be  expofcd  to  them  ;  and  in  pre- 
ferving  him  afterwards,  when  Saul  fpake  to  Jonathan,  and  to 
all  his  fervants,  to  kill  David ;  and  in  inclining  Jonathan,  in- 
ftead  of  killing  him,  as  his  father  bade  him,  to  lovq  him  as  his 
own  foul,  and  to  be  a  great  inftrument  of  his  prefervation,  even 
fp  as  to  expofe  his  own  life  to  preferve  David  ;  though  one 
would  have  thought  that  none  would  have  been  more  willing 
to  have  David  killed  than  Jonathan,  feeing  that  he  was  com- 
petitor with  him  for  his  father's  crown  ;  and  again  faving  him, 
when  Saul  threw  a  javelin  at  him  t6  fmitc  him  even  to  the  wall ; 
and  again  preferving  him,  when  he  fent  meffengers  to  his  houfe, 
tp  watch  him,  and  to  kill  him,  when  Michal,  Saul's  daughter,  let 
him  down  through  a  window ;  and  when  he  afterwards  fent 
xneilengers,  once  and  again,  to  Naioth  in  Ramah,  to  take  him, 
and  they  were  remarkably  prevented  time  after  time,  by  being 
feized  with  miraculous  impreffions  of  the  fpirit  of  God  ;  and 
afterwards,  when  Saul,  being  refolute  in  the  affair,  went  him- 
felf,  he  alfo  was  among  the  prophets  :  And  after  this,  how 
wonderfully  was  David's  life  preferved  at  Gath  among  the  Phi- 
liftines,  when  he  went  to  Achifli  the  king  of  Gath,  and  was 
there  in  the  hands  of  the  Philiftines,  who,  one  would  have 
thought,  would  have  difpatched  him  at  once,  he  having  fo  much 
provoked  them  by  his  exploits  againfi:  them  :  And  he  was  again 
wonderfully  preferved  at  Keilah,  when  he  had  entered  into  a 
fenced  town,  where  Saul  thought  he  was  iure  of  him.  And, 
1  How  wonderfully  was  he  preferved  from  Saul,  when  he  purfu- 
ed  and  hunted  him  in  the  mountains  ?  ^  How  remarkably  did 
God  deliver  him  in  the  Vv'ildernefs  of  Maon,  when  Saul  and  his 
army  were  compafiing  David  about  ?  ^  Hovv  was  he  delivered 
in  the  cave  of  iingedi,  when,  inllead  of  Saul's  killing  David, 
God  delivered  Saul  into  his  hands  m  the  cave,  and  he  cut  off 
his  fkirt,  and  might  as  eafily  have  cut  ofF  his  head ;  and  after- 
wards delivering  him  in  like  manner  in  the  wildernefs  of  Zipli ; 
and  afterwards  again  preferving  him  in  the  land  of  the  Philif- 
tines, though  David  had  fought  againft  the  Philiftines.  and  con- 
quered them  at  Keilah,  fmce  he  was  la  ft  among  them;  which 
one  would  think,  would  have  been  fufEcient  warning  to  them 
not  to  truft  him,  or  let  him  efcape  a  fecond  time,  if  ever  they 
had  him  in  their  hands  again ;  but  yet  now,  when  they  had  a 
fecond  opportunity,  God  wonderfully  turned  their  hearts  to 
him  to  befriend  and  protect  him,  inftead  ofdeftroying  him  ? 

Thus 


Part  V.        W  O  R  K    OP    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  95 

Thus  was  the  precious  feed  that  virtually  contained  the  Re- 
deemer, and  all  the  blcfiings  cf  his  redemption,  wonderfully 
preferved.  when  hell  and  earth  were  confpired  againft  it  to  de- 
flroy  it.  How  often  does  David  himfclf  take  notice  of  this, 
with  praife  and  admiration,  in  the  book  of  Ffalms  ! 

III.  About  this  time,  the  written  word  of  God,  or  the  canon 
of  fcripture,  was  added  to  by  Samuel,  1  have  before  obferved, 
how  that  the  canon  of  the  fcripture  was  begun,  and  the  £rfb 
written  word  of  God,  the  firft  V/ritten  rule  of  faith  and  man- 
ners  that  ever  was,  was  given  to  the  church  about  Mofes's  time  : 
and  many,  and  I  know  not  but  mofl  divines,  think  it  was  added 
to  by  Jolhua,  and  that  he  wrote  the  laft  chapter  of  Deuterono- 
my, and  mod  of  the  book  of  Jofhua.  Others  think  that  Jofliua, 
Judges,  Ruth,  and  part  of  the  fird  book  of  Samuel,  were  writ- 
ten by  Samuel.  Hov/ever  that  was,  this  we  have  good  evidence 
of,  that  Samuel  made  an  addition  to  the  canon  of  fcripture  ;  for 
Samuel  is  manifeftly  mentioned  in  the  New  Teftament,  as  one 
of  the  prophets  whofe  writings  we  have  in  the  fcriptures,  in 
that  forcmentioned,  Afts  iii.  24.  "  Yea,  and  all  the  prophets  from 
Samuel,  and  thofe  that  follow  after,  as  many  as  have  fpoken, 
have  likewifc  foretold  of  thefe  days.'*  -By  that  expreflion,  "  as 
many  as  have  fpoken,"  cannot  be  meant,  as  many  as  have  fpok- 
cn  by  word  of  mouth  ;  for  never  was  any  prophet  but  what  did 
that  :  But  the  meaning  mull  be,  as  many  as  have  fpcken  by 
writing,  fo  that  what  they  have  fpcken  has  come  down  to  us, 
that  we  may  fee  what  it  is. 

And  the  way  that  Samuel  fpoke  of  thefe  times  of  Chrift  and 
tlie  gofpel,  was  by  giving  the  hiftory  cf  thcfc  things  that  typified 
tliem,  and  pointed  to  them,  particularly  the  things  concerning 
David  that  he  wrote.  The  fpirit  of  God  moved  him  to  com- 
mit thofe  things  to  writing,  chiefly  for  that  rcafon,  becaufe  they 
pointed  to  Chrift,  and  the  times  of  the  gofpel  ;  and,  as  was  faid 
before,  this  was  the  main  buhncfs  of  ail  iliat  fucceflion  of  proph- 
ets, that  began  in  Samuel,  to  forefhow  thofe  times. 

That  Samuel  added  to  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures,  feems  fur- 
ther to  appear  from  1  Chron,  xxix.  29.  «'  Now  the  a£ls  of  Da- 
vid the  king,  fiVft  and  laft,  behold,  they  are  written  in  the  book 
of  Samuel  the  fe'<?r/' 

Whether  the  book  of  Jofhua  was  written  by  Samuel  or  not, 
yet  it  is  the  general  opinion  of  divines,  that  the  books  of  Judges, 
and  Ruth,  and  part  of  the  fir  ft  book  of  Samuel,  were  penned 

by 


cj6  A     II  I  S  T  O  R  ")■     'Ji    tuh  PcjIucTL 

foy  hiin.  1  he  book  of  Rutli  ^^•3.s  penned  for  that  icifoii.  bccaufe, 
though  it  feemcd  to  treat  of  private  afFitirs,  yet  the  perfons 
chiefly  fpokcn  of  in  that  bool;  were  of  the  family  whence  Da- 
vid and  Chrift  proceeded,  and  fo  pointed  to  what  the  apofllc 
Peter  obfcrved  of  Samuel  and  the  other  prophets,  in  the  iiid 
chapter  of  A6ls.  Tlie  thus  adding  to  tlie  canon  of  the  fcrip- 
tures,  the  great  and  main  inllrumewt  of  the  application  of  re- 
demption, is  to  be  looked  upon  as  a  further  carrying  on  of  that 
work,  and  an  addition  made  to  that  great  building. 

IV.  Another  thing  God  did  towards  this  work,  at  that  time, 
was  his  infpiring  David  to  fliow  forth  Chrift  and  his  redemp- 
tion, in  divine  fongs,  which  fliould  be  for  the  ufe  of  the  church, 
in  publick  worfliip,  throughout  all  ages.  David  was  himfelf 
endued  with  the  fpirit  of  prophecy.  He  is  called  a  prophet, 
AO;s  ii,  29,  30.  ''  Let  me  freely  fpeak  to  you  of  the- patriarch 
Davidj  that  he  is  both  dead  and  buried,  and  his  fepulchre  ia 
with  us  unto  this  day  ;  Therefore  being  a  prophet,  and  know- 
ing that  God  had  fworn  witli  an  oath,"  &c.  So  that  herein  he 
was  a  type  of  Chrift,  that  he  was  both  a  prophet  and  a  king. 
We  have  no  certain  account  of  the  time  when  David  was  firft 
endued  with  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  ;  but  it  is  manifeft,  that  it 
either  v^'as  at  the  time  that  Samuel  anointed  him,  or  verv  foon 
after  ;  for  he  appears  foon  after  afted  by  this  fpirit,  in  the  af- 
fair of  Gabith  :  And  then  great  part  of  the  pfalms  were  penned 
in  the  time  of  his  troubles,  before  he  came  to  the  crown  ;  as 
might  be  made  manifeft  by  an  indu6lion  of  particulars. 

The  oil  that  was  ufed  in  anointing  David  was  a  type  of  tlic 
Spirit  of  God  ;  and  the  type  and  the  antitype  were  given  both 
together;  as  we  are  told,  1  Sam.  xvi.  13.  "  Then  Samuel  took 
the  horn  of  oil,  and  anointed  him  in  the  midft  of  his  brethren  ; 
and  the  fpirit  of  the  Lord  came  upon  David  from  that  day  for- 
ward :'*  And  it  is  probable,  that  it  now  came  upon  him  in  its 
prophetical  influences. 

The  way  that  this  fpirit  influenced  him  was,  to  infpire  him 
to  fhow  forth  Chrift,  and  the  glorious  things  of  his  redemption,. 
in  divine  fongs,  fweetly  exprefling  the  breathings  of  a  pious 
foul,  full  of  admiration  of  the  glorious  things  of  the  Redeemer, 
inflamed  with  divine  love,  and  lifted  up  with  praife  ;  and  there- 
fore he  is  called  the  fweet  f^falmifi  of  IfraeL  2  Sam.  xxiii,  i. 
''  Now  thefe  be  the  laft  words  of  David  :  David  the  fon  of 
Jefle  faid,  and  the  man  who  was  raifed  up  on  high,  the  anoint- 
ed 


Part  V.       W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  ^y 

cd  of  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  the  fweet  pfalmift  of  Ifrael.'* 
The  main  rubjc6ts  of  thefe  fweet  fongs  were  the  glorious  things 
of  the  gofpel  ;  as  is  evident  by  the  interpretation  that  is  often 
put  upon  them,  and  the  ufe  that  is  made  of  them  in  the  New 
Teftament  ;•  for  there  is  no  one  book  of  the  Old  Teftament  that 
is  fo  often  quoted  in  the  New,  as  the  book  of  Pfalms.  Joyfully 
did  this  holy  man  fing  of  thofe  great  things  of  Chrift's  redemp- 
tion, that  had  been  the  hope  and  expeftation  of  God's  church 
and  people  from  the  beginning  of  the  church  of  God  on  earth  ; 
and  joyfully  did  others  follow  him  in  it,  as  Afaph,  Heman> 
Ethan,  and  others  ;  for  the  book  of  Pfalms  was  not  all  penned 
by  David,  though  the  greater  part  of  it  was.  Hereby  the  canon 
of  fcripture  was  further  added  to  ;  and  an  excellent  portion  of 
divine  writ  was  it  that  was  added. 

This  was  a  great  advancement  that  God  made  in  this  build- 
ing ;  and  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  which  had  been  gradually  grow- 
ing from  the  fall,  was  exceedingly  increafed  by  it  :  For  whereas 
before  there  was  but  here  and  there  a  prophecy  given  of  Chrifl 
in  a  great  many  ages,  nov/  here  Chrifl:  is  fpoken  of  by  his  an- 
cedor  David  abundantly,  in  multitudes  of  fongs,  fpeaking  of  his 
incarnation,  life,  death,  refurreftion,  afcenfion  into  heaven,  his 
fatisfaclion,  interceflion  ;  his  prophetical,  kingly,  and  prieftly 
office  ;  his  glorious  benefits  in  this  life  and  that  which  is  to 
come  ;  his  union  with  the  church,  and  the  bleffednefs  of  the 
church  in  him  ;  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles,  the  future  glory  of 
the  church  near  the  end  of  the  world,  and  Chrifl's  coming  to 
the  final  judgment.  Ail  thefc  things,  and  many  more,  concern- 
ing Chrifl  and  his  redemption,  are  abundantly  fpoken  of  in  the 
book  of  Pfalms, 

This  was  alfo  a  glorious  advancement  of  the  affair  of  redemp- 
tion, as  God  hereby  gave  his  church  a  book  of  divine  fongs  for 
their  ufe  in  that  part  of  their  publick  worfhip,  viz.  finging  his 
praif«s,  throughout  all  ages  to  the  end  of  the  world.  It  is  man- 
ifefl  the  book  of  Pfalms  was  given  of  God  for  this  end.  It  was 
ufed  in  the  church  of  Ifrael  by  God's  appointment  :  This  is 
manifeft  by  the  title  of  many  of  the  pfalms,  in  which  they  arc 
infcribed  to  the  chief  mufician,  i.  e.  to  the  man  that  was  ap*- 
pointed  to  be  the  leader  of  divine  fongs  in  the  temple,  in  thfe 
publick  worfhip  of  Ifrael.  So  David  is.  called  the  fweet  pfalmift 
of  Ifrael,  becaufe  he  penned  pfalms  for  the  ufe  of  the  church  oi 
Ifrael  ;  and  accordingly  we  have  an  account  that  th6y  were  ac- 

M  tually 


fj8  A    HISTORY    OF    lu^  Period  i. 

tually  made  ufe  of  in<tlie  church  of  Ifrael  for  that  end,  even 
ages  after  David  was  dead  ;  as  2  Chron,  xxix.  30.  **  Moreover. 
Hezekiah  the  king,  and  the  princes,  commanded  the  Levites  to 
fing  praifes  unto  the  Lord,  with  the  words  of  David,  and  of 
Afaph  the  fecr.'*  And  we  find  that  the  fame  are  appointed  in 
the  New  Teitament  to  be  made  ufe  of  in  the  ChriiUan  church, 
in  their  worfhip  :  Eph,  v.  19.  '«  Speaking  to  yourfelves  in 
pfabns,  hymns,  and  fpiritual  fongs."  Col.  iii.  16.  "  Admohifli- 
ing  one' another  in  pfalms,  hymjis,  and  fpiritual  longs,"  And  fo 
they  have  been,  and  will  to  the  end  of  the  world  be  made  ufe 
of  in  the  church  to  celebrate  the  praifes  of  God.  The  people 
of  God  were  woiit  fometimes  to  worfiiip  God  by  fuiging  fongs 
to  his  praife  before  ;  as  they  did  at  the  Red  Sea  ;  and  they  had 
Mofes's  prophetical  fong,  in  .the  xxxiid  chapter  of  Deuterono- 
my, committed  to  them  for  that  end  ;  and  Deborah  and  Barakj 
and  Hannah,  fung  praifes  to  God  ;  but  now  lirit  did  God  com- 
mit to  his  church  a  book  of  divine  fongs  for   their  conilant  ufe, 

V.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  is  God's  aftually 
exalting  David  to  the  throne  of  Ifrael,  notwithllanding  all  the 
©ppofition  made  to  it,  God  was  determined  to  do  it,  and  he 
made  every  thing  give  place  that  flood  in  the  way  of  it.  He  re- 
moved Saul  and  his  fons  out  of  the  way  ;  and  fird  fet  David 
over  the  tribe  of  Judah  ;  and  then,  having  removed  lihbofheth, 
fet  him  over  all  Ifrael.  Thus  did  God  fulfil  his  word  to  David. 
He  took  him  from  the  fheepcote,  and  made  him  king  over  his 
people  Ifrael,  Pfal.  Ixxviii.  70,  71.  And  now  the  throne  of  If- 
rael was  eftablifhed  in  that  family  in  which  it  was  to  continue 
for  ever,  even  for  ever  and  ever. 

VI,  Now  firfl  it  was  that  God  proceeded  to  choofe  a  partic- 
ular city  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Ifrael  to  place  his  name  there. 
There  is  feveral  times  mention  made  in  the  law  of  Mofes,  of  the 
children  of  Ifrael's  bringing  their  oblations  to  the  place  which 
God  fhould  choofe  ;  as  Deut,  xii.  5,  6,  7.  and  fo  in  many  other 
places  ;  but  God  had  never  proceeded  to  do  it  until  now.  The 
tabernacle  and  ark  were  never  fixed,  but  fometimes  in  one  place, 
and  fometimes  in  another  ;  but  now  God  proceeded  to  choofe 
Jerufalem.  The  city  of  Jerufalem  was  never  thoroughly  con- 
quered, or  taken  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Jebufites,  until  David's 
time.  It  is  faid  in  Jofh.  xv.  63.  «  As  for  the  Jebufites,  the  in- 
habitants of  Jerufalem,  the  children  of  Judah  could  not  drive 
them  out  :  But  the  Jebufites  dwell  with  the  children  of  Judah 

at 


Part  V,        W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  ^ 

at  Jerufalem  unto  this  day."  But  now  David  wholly  fubdued 
it,  as  we  have  an  account  in  2  Sam.  v.  And  now  God  proceed- 
ed to  choole  that  city  to  place  his  name  there,  as  appears  by 
David's  bringing  up  the  ark  thither  foon  after  ;  and  therefore 
this  is  mentioned  afterwards  as  the  firfl  time  God  proceeded 
to  choofe  a  city  to  place  his  name  there,  2  Chron.  vi.  5,  6.  and 
chap.  xii.  13.  Afterwards  God  proceeded  to  fliow  David  the 
very  place  where  he  would  have  his  temple  built,  viz.  in  the 
th refiling  floor  of  Araunah  the  Jebufite. 

This  city  of  Jerufalem  is  therefore  calkd  the  holy  city  j  and 
it  was  the  greatefl  type  of  the  church  of  Chrill  in  all  the  Old 
Teftamcnt,  It  was  redeemed  by  David,  the  captain  of  thehofls 
of  Ifrael,  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Jebufites,  to  be  God's  city,  the 
holy  place  of  his  reft  for  ever,  where  he  would  dwell ;  asChrift, 
the  captain  of  his.  people's  falvation,  redeems  his  church  out  of 
the  hands  of  devils,  to  be  his  holy  and  beloved  city.  And 
therefore,  ^  How  often  does  the  fcripture,  when  fpeaking  of 
Chrift's  redemption  of  his  church,  call  it  by  the  names  of  Zio?t 
and  jern/alcm  ?  This  was  the  city  that  God  had  appointed  to  be 
the  place  of  the  firfl  gathering  and  erefting  of  the  Chriflian 
church  after  Chrifl's  refurreftion,  of  that  remarkable  pouring 
out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  on  the  apoflles  and  primitive  Chrif- 
tians,  and  the  place  whence  the  gofpel  was  to  found  forth  into 
all  the  world ;  the  place  of  the  firfl  Chriftian  church,  that 
was  to  be,  as  it  were,  the  mother  of  all  other  churches  through 
the  world ;  agreeable  to  that  prophecy,  If.  ii.  3,  4.  "  Out  of 
Zion  fhall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of  the  Lord  from 
Jerufalem  :  And  he  fliall  judge  among  the  nations,  and  fhall 
rebuke  many  people,"  &c. 

Thus  God  chofe  Mount  Sion  whence  the  gofpel  was  to  be 
founded  forth,  as  the  law  had  been  from  Mount  S*nai, 

Wli.  The  next  thing  to  be  obferved  here,  is  God's  folemnly 
renewing  the  covenant  of  grace  with  David,  and  promifing  that 
the  MefTiah  fliould  be  of  his  feed.  We  have  an  account  of  it 
in  the  viith  chapter  of  the  fecondbook  of  Samuel.  It  was  done 
on  occafion  of  the  thoughts  David  entertained  of  building  God 
an  houfe.  On  this  occafion  God  fends  Nathan  the  prophet  to 
him,  with  the  glorious  promifes  of  the  covenant  of  grace.  It  is 
efpecially  contained  in  thefe  words  in  the  16th  verfe ;  «  And 
thy  houfe  and  thy  kingdom  fhall  be  cflablifhed  for  ever  before 
thee  ;  thy  throne  fliall  be  cflablifhed  for  evar."    Which  prom- 

ifc 


100  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  I. 

ife  has  refpeft  to  Chrift,  the  feed  of  David,  and  is  fulfilled  in 
him  only  :  For  the  kingdom  of  David  has  long  fmce  ceafed^ 
any  otherwife  than  as  it  is  upheld  in  Chrift.  The  temporal 
kingdom  of  the  houfe  of  David  has  now  ceafed  for  a  great  ma- 
ny ages  ;  much  longer  than  ever  it  ftood. 

That  this  covenant  that  God  now  eftablifhcd  with  David  by 
Nathan  the  prophet,  was  the  covenant  of  grace,  is  evident  by 
the  plain  teftimony  of  fcripture,  in  If.  Iv.  i,  2,  3.  There  we 
have  Chrift  inviting  finners  to  come  to  the  waters,  &c.  And 
in  the  3d  verfe,  he  fays,  "  Incline  your  ear,  come  unto  me  ; 
hear,  and  your  fouls  fiiall  live ;  and  I  will  make  with  3'ou  an 
everlafting  covenant,  even  the  fure  mercies  of  David.'*  Here 
Chrift  offers  to  poor  finners,  if  they  will  come  to  him,  to  give 
them  an  intereftin  the  fame  everlafting  covenant  that  he  had  made 
with  David,  conveying  to  them  the  fame  fure  mercies.  But, 
^  What  is  that  covenant  that  finners  obtain  an  intereft  in,  when 
they  come  to  Chrift,  but  the  covenant  of  grace  ? 

This  was  the  fifth  folemn  eftabliftiment  of  the  covenant  of 
grace  with  the  church  after  the  fall.  The  covenant  of  grace 
was  revealed  and  eftabliftied  all  along.  But  there  had  been  par- 
ticular feafons,  wherein  God  had  in  a  very  folemn  manner  renew* 
ed  this  covenant  with  his  church,  giving  forth  a  new  edition 
and  eftabliftiment  of  it,  revealing  it  in  a  new  manner.  This 
^  was  now  the  fifth  folemn  eftablifhment  of  that  covenant.  The 
firft  was  with  Adam,  the  fecond  was  with  Noah,  the  third  was 
with  the  patriarchs,  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  the  fourth  was 
in  the  wiidernefs  by  Mofes,  and  now  the  fifth  is  this  made  to 
David. 

This  eftabliftiment  of  the  covenant  of  grace  with  David," 
David  always  efteemed  the  greateft  fmile  of  God  upon  him, 
the  greateft  ^honour  of  all  that  God  had  put  upon  him  ;  he 
prized  it,  and  rejoiced  in  it  above  all  the  other  blelTings  of  his 
reign.  You  may  fee  how  joyfully  and  thankfully  he  received 
it,  when  Nathan  came  to  him  with  the  glorious  meffage,  in  2 
Sam,  vii.  18.  &c.  And  fo  David,  in  his  laft  words,  declares 
this  to  be  all  his  falvation,  and  all  his  defire  ;  as  you  may  fee, 
2  Sam,  xxiii.  5. «  He  hath  made  with  me  an  everlafting  cove- 
nant, ordered  in  all  things  and  fure  :  For  this  is  all  my  falva- 
tion, and  all  my  defire,** 

VIII.  It  was  by  David  that  God  firft  gave  his  people  Ifrael 
the  poffeHion   of  the   whole   promifed   land.     I   have  before 

fhown, 


Part  V.       W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  loi 

fhown,  how  God's  giving  the  poffeiTion  of  the  promifed  land 
belonged  to  the  covenant  of  grace.  This  was  done  in  a  great 
meahire  by  Jofliua,  but  not  fully.  Jofliua  did  not  wholly  fub- 
due  that  part  of  the  promifed  land  that  was  {lri6lly  called  the 
land  of  Canaan,  and  that  was  divided  by  lot  to  the  feveral 
tribes  ;  but  there  were  great  numbers  of  the  old  inhabitants 
left  unfubdued,  as  we  read  in  the  books  of  Jofliua  and  Judges; 
and  there  were  many  left  to  prove  Ifrael,  and  to  be  thorns  in 
their  fides,  and  pricks  in  their  eyes.  There  were  the  Jebulitcs 
in  Jerufalcm,  and  many  of  the  Canaanitcs,  and  the  whole  nation 
of  the  Philiftines,  who  all  dwelt  in  that  part  of  the  land  that 
was  divided  by  lot.  and  chiefly  in  that  part  of  the  land  that  be- 
longed to  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Ephraim, 

And  thus  thefe  remains  of  the  old  inhabitants  of  Canaan  con- 
tinued unfubdued  until  David's  time  ;  but  he  wholly  fubdued 
them  all.  Which  is  agreeable  to  what  St.  Stephen  obfervcs, 
Afts  vii.  45,  "  Which  alfo  our  fathers  brought  in  with  Jefus 
(L  e.  Jofhua)  into  the  polfefTion  of  the  Gentiles,  whom  God 
drove  out  before  the  face  of  our  fathers,  unto  the  days  of  Da- 
vid." They  were  until  the  days  of  David  in  driving  them  out, 
before  they  had  wholly  fubdued  them.  But  David  entirely 
brought  them  under.  He  fubdued  the  Jebufites,  and  he  fubdu- 
ed the  whole  nation  of  the  Philiftines,  and  all  the  refl  of  the 
remains  of  the  feven  nations  of  Canaan  :  1  Chron.  xviii.  1, 
<*  Now  after  this  it  came  to  pafs,  that  David  fmote  the  Philif- 
tines, and  fubdued  them,  and  took  Gath  and  her  towns  out  of 
the  hands  of  the  Philiftines." 

After  this,  all  the  remains  of  the  former  inhabitants  of  Ca- 
naan were  made  bond  fervants  to  the  Ifraelites,  The  pofleri- 
ty  of  the  d-ibeonites  became  fervants  before,  hewers  of  wood 
and  drawers  of  water,  for  the  houfe  of  God.  But  Solomon, 
David's  fon  and  fucceffor,  put  all  the  other  remains  of  the  feven 
nations  of  Canaan  to  bond  fervice  ;  at  leaft  made  them  pay  a 
tribute  of  bond  fervice,  as  you  may  fee,  1  Kings  ix.  20,  21,  22. 
And  hence  we  read  of  the  children  of  Solomon's  fervants,  af- 
ter the  return  from  the  Babylonilh  captivity,  Ezra  ii.  ^5-  ^"^ 
Neh.  xi.  3.  They  were  the  children  or  pollerlty  of  the  feven 
nations  of  Canaan,  that  Solomon  had  fubjefted  to  bond  fervice. 

Thus  David  fubdued  the  whole  land  of  Canaan,  ftridly  fo 
called.  But  then  that  was  not  one  half,  nor  quarter,  of  the 
land  God  had  promifed  to  their  fathers.    The  land  that  God 

had 


102  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THB  Period  I. 

had  often  promifed  to  their  fathers,  included  all  the  countries 
from  the  river  of  Egypt  to  the  river  Euphrates.  Thefe  were 
the  bounds  of  the  land  promifed  to  Abraharn,  Gen.  xv.  18. 
<*  In  that  fame  day  the  Lord  made  a  covenant  with  Abram, 
faying,  Unto  thy  feed  have  I  given  this  land,  from  the  river  of 
Egypt,  unto  the  great  river,  the  river  Euphrates."  So  again 
God  promifed  at  Mount  Sinai,  Exod.  xxiii.  31.  "  And  I  will 
fet  thy  bounds  from  the  Red  Sea  even  unto  the  fea  of  the  Phi- 
liftines,  and  from  the  defcrt  unto  the  river :  For  1  will  deliver 
the  inhabitants  of  the  land  into  your  hand  ;  and  thou  fhalt  drive 
them  out  befoie  thee."  So  again,  Deut.  xi.  24.  "Every  place 
whereon  the  foles  of  your  feet  fhall  tread,  fliall  be  yours ; 
From  the  wildernefs,  and  Lebanon,  from  the  river,  the  river 
Euphrates,  even  unto  the  Ottermod  fea,  fliall  your  coaft  be.'* 
Again,  tlic  fame  promife  is  made  to  Jofliua :  Jofh.  i.  3,  4. 
^'  Every  place  that  the  folc  of  your  feet  fliall  tread  upon,  have 
I  given  unto  you,  as  I  faid  unto  Mofes  ;  from  .the  wilderncfs 
and  this  Lebanon,  even  unto  the  great  river,  the  river  Euphra- 
tes, all  the  land  of  the  Hittites,  and  unto  the  great  ica,  towards 
the  going  down  of  the  fun,  fliall  be  your  coaft."  But  the  land 
that  Jofhua  gave  the  people  the  pofleiTion  of,  was  but  a  little 
part  of  this  land.  And  the  people  never  had  had  the  poffef- 
iion  of  it,  until  now  when  God  gave  it  them  by  David. 

This  large  country  did  not  only  include  that  Canaan  that  was 
divided  by  lot  to  thofe  who  came  in  with  Jofliua,  but  the  land 
fof  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites,  the  land  of  the  Amalekites,  and 
the  reft  of  the  Edomites,  and  the  country  of  Zobah.  All  thefe 
nations  were  fubdued  and  brought  under  the  children  of  Ifrael 
hy  David.  And  he  put  garrifons  in  the  feveral  countries,  and 
they  became  David's  fervants,  as  we  have  a  particular  account 
in  the  viiith  chapter  of  2d  Samuel  :  And  David  extended  their 
border  to  the  river  Euphrates,  as  was  promifed  ;  fee  the  3d 
verfe  :  <'  And  David  fmote  alfo  Hadadezer  the  fon  of  Rehob, 
king  of  Zobah,  as  he  went  to  recover  his  border  at  the  river 
JEuphrates.^*  And  accordingly  we  read,  that  Solomon  his  fon 
reigned  over  all  the  region  on  this  fide  the  river,  1  Kings  iv, 
24.  "  For  he  had  dominion  over  all  the  region  on  this  fide  the 
river,  from  Tiphfah  even  unto  Azzah,  over  all  the  kings  on 
this  fide  the  river.'*  This  Artaxerxes  king  of  Perfia  takes  no- 
tice of  long  after  :  Ezra  iv.  20.  '•  There  have  been  mighty  kings 

alfo 


PartV,       WORK    or    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  xV.  103 

alfo  over  Jerufalem,  which  have  ruled  over  all  countries  beyond 
the  river  ;  and  toll,  tribute,  and  cultom  was  paid  unto  them." 

So  that  Joflaua,  that  type  of  Chrifl,  did  but  begin  the  work 
of  giving  Ifrael  the.  poireiTion  of  the  promiied  land  ;  but  left  it 
to  be  finiflicd  by  that  much  greater  type  and  anceflorof  Chrifl:, 
even  David,  who  fubdued  far  more  of  that  land  than  ever  Jofh- 
ua  had  done.  And  in  this  extent  of  his  and  Solcmon's  domin- 
ion was  fome  refemblance  of  the  great  extent  of  Chiiil's  king- 
dom ;  and  therefore  the  extent  of  Chrid's  kingdom  is  fet  forth 
by  this  very  thing,  of  its  being  over  all  lands,  from  the  Red  Sea 
to  the  fea  of  the  Phili (lines,  and  over  all  lands  from  thence  to 
the  river  Euphrates  ;  as  Pfal.  Ixxii.  8.  '•  lie  fliall  have  domin- 
ion alfo  from  fea  to  lea,  and  from  the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the 
earth."     See  alfo  t  Kings  viii.  56, 

IX.  God  by  David  perfefted  the  Jcwifh  worfhip,  and  added 
to  it  feveral  new^  inllitutions.  The  law  was  given  by  Mofcs, 
but  yet  all  the  inllitutions  of  the  Jewifli  worfhip  were  not  giv- 
en by  Mofcs  ;  fome  were  added  by  divine  dire6lion.  So  this 
grcateft  of  all  perfonal  types  of  Chrift  did  not  only  perfeiE^ 
Jofhua's  work,  in  giving  Ifrael  the  pofleffion  of  the  promifed 
land,  but  he  alfo  finifhed  Mofcs's  work,  in  perfetling  the  in- 
flituted  worfhip  of  Ifrael.  Thus  there  mull  be  a  number  of 
typical  prophets,  priefls,  and  princes,  to  complete  one  figure  or 
{hadow  of  Chrifh  the  antitype,  he  being  the  lubflance  of  all  the 
types  and  Ihadows.  Of  fo  much  more  glory  was  Ghrift  ac- 
counted worthy,  than  Mofcs,  Jofhua,  David,  and  Solomon,  and 
all  the  great  prophets,  pricfts,  and  princes,  judges,  and  iaviours 
of  the  Old  Teftament  put  together. 

The  ordinances  of  David  are  mentioned  as  of  parallel  valid- 
ity with  thofc  of  Mofes,  2  Chron.  xxiii.  i>^.  "  Alio  Jehoiada 
appointed  the  offices  of  the  houfe  of  the  Lord  by  the  hand  of 
the  priefls  the  Levitcs,  whom  David  had  diilributed  in  tlie 
houfe  of  the  Lord,  to  ofier  the  burnt  oficrings  of  the  Lbrdp'as  it 
is  written  in  the  law  of  Mofes,  with  rejoicing  and  with  fmging," 
as  it  was  ordained  by  David."  The  worfliip  of  Ifiac!  w  as  per- 
fefted  by  David,  by  the  addition  that  he  made  tp  the  cercmonia! 
law,  which  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  xxiiid,  x:avth,'x'xvt]i. 
and  xxvith  chapters  of  the  lirlt  book  of  Chronicles,  confiding 
:n  the  feveral  orders  and  courfes  into  \yhich  David  divided  tlic 
Lcvites,  and  the  work  and  bufmefs  to  which  he  appointed  them, 
different  from  what  Mofcs  had  appointed  them  to  ;  and  alfo  in 

the 


104  ^    HISTORY    OF  THE  Period  L 

the  divifions  of  the  priells  the  fons  of  Aaron  into  fou-r  and 
twenty  courfes,  adigning  to  every  courfe  their  bufmefs  in  the 
houfe  of  the  Lord,  and  their  particular  flated  times  of  attend- 
ance there  ;  and  appointing  fome  of  the  Lcvites  to  a  new  office, 
that  had  not  been  appointed  before  ;  and  that  was  the  office  of 
fingers  ;  and  particularh>'  ordering  and  regulating  of  them  in  that 
office,  as  you  may  fee  in  the  xxvth  chapter  of  t  Chronicles  ; 
and  appointing  others  of  the  Levites  by  law  to  the  feveial  fer- 
vices  of  porters,  treafurers,  officers,  and  judges  :  And  thefe  or- 
dinances of  David  were  kept  up  henceforth  in  the  church  of 
Ifrael,  as  long  as  the  Jewiffi  church  lafted.  Thus  we  find  the 
feveral  orders  of  priefls,  and  the  Levites,  the  porters,  and  fing- 
ers, after  the  captivity.  So  we  find  the  courfes  of  the  priefis 
appointed  by  David  ffill  continuing  in  the  New  T^flament  ; 
fo  Zacharias  the  father  of  John  the  Baptifl  was  a  priefl  of  the 
courfe  of  Abia  ;  which  is  the  fame  with  the  courfe  of  Abijah 
appointed  by  David,  that  we  read  of  i  Chron,  xxiv,  lo. 

Thus  David  as  well  as  Mofes  was  made  like  to  Chriftthe  fon 
of  David,  in  this  refpeft,  that  by  him  God  gave  a  nev/  ecclefiaf* 
tical  eftablifhment,  and  new  inilitutions  of  worfliip,  David 
did  not  only  add  to  the  inflitutions  of  Mofes,  but  by  thofe  ad- 
ditions he  aboliflied  fome  of  the  old  inilitutions  of  Mofes  that 
had  been  in  force  until  that  time  ;  particularly  thofe  laws  of 
Mofes  that  appointed  the  bufmefs  of  the  Levites,  which  we 
have  in  the  iiid  and  ivth  chapters  of  Numbers,  which  very 
much  confilted  in  their  charge  of  the  feveral  parts  and  utenfils 
of  the  tabernacle  there  affigned  to  them,  and  in  carrying  thofe 
feveral  parts  of  the  tabernacle.  But  thofe  laws  were  now  abol- 
iflied by  David  ;  and  they  were  no  more  to  carry  thofe  things, 
as  they  had  been  ufed  to  do  until  David's  time.  But  David  ap- 
pointed  them  to  other  work  inflead  of  it  ;  fee  i  Chron.  xxiii. 
26.  "  And  alfo  unto  the  Levites;  they  fliall  no  more  carry  the 
tabernacle,  nor  any  vefTels  of  it  for  the  fervice  thereof  :"  A 
fure  evidence  that  the  ceremonial  law  given  by  Mofes  is  not 
perpetual,  as  the  Jews  fuppofe  ;  but  might  be  wholly  abolifhed 
by  Chrifl  :  For  if  David,  a  type  of  the  Meffiah,  might  abolifh 
the  law  of  Mofes  in  part,  much  more  might  the  Mefhah  himfelf 
abolifh  the  wKole, 

David,  by  God's  appointment,  abolifhed  all  ufe  of  the  taber- 
nacle, that  was  built  by  Mofes,  and  of  which  he  had  the  pattern 
from  God  :  For  God  now  revealed  it  to  David  to  be  his  will, 

that 


PartV.      WOR  K    OF    RED  EM  PTIO  N.  105 

that  a  temple  Ihould  be  built,  that  ftiould  be  inftead  of  the  tab- 
ernacle :  A  great  prefage  of  what  Chrift,   the   fon   of  David, 
would  do,  when  he  fhould  come,  viz.  abolish  the  whole  Jewifli 
eccleliaftical  conftitution,   whidi  was  but  as  a  moveable  taber- 
nacle, to  fet  up  the  fpiritual  gofpel  temple,  which  was  to  be  far 
more  glorious,   and  of  greater  extent,   and  was  to  laft  for  ever. 
David  had  the  pattern  of  all  things  pertaining  to  the  temple 
Showed  him,   even  in  like  manner  as  Mofes  had  the  pattern  of 
the  tabernacle  :  And  Solomon  built  the  temple  according  to  that 
pattern  which  he  had  from  his  father  David,  which  he  received 
from  God.     1    Chron.  xxviii,   11,  12.  "Then  David  gave  to 
Solomon  his  fon  the  jrattern  of  the  porch,    and  of  the   houfes 
thereof,  and  of  the  treafuries  thereof,  and  of  the  upper  cham- 
bers thereof,  and  of  the  inner  parlours  thereof,  and  of  the  place 
of  the  mercy  feat,  and  the  pattern  of  all  that  he  had  by  the  fpi- 
rit,  of  the  courts  of  the  houfe  of  the  Lor^d,  and  of  all  the  cham- 
bers round  about,  of  the  treafuries  of  the  houfe  of  God,  and  of 
the  trcaluries   of  the   dedicate   things."     And,    ver.  19.  "  All 
this,  faid  David,   the  Lord  made  me  underftand  in   writing  by 
his  hand  upon  me,  even  all  the  works  of  this  pattern." 

X.  The  canon  of  fcripture  feems  at  or  after  the  clofe  of  Dj- 
vid's  reign  to  be  added  to  by  the  prophets  Nathan  and  Gad. 
It  appears  probable  by  the  fcriptures,  that  they  carried  on  the 
hiftory  of  the  two  books  of  Samuel  from  the  place  where  S«^iip.- 
uel  left  it,  and  finifhed  it.  Thcfe  two  books  of  Samuel  feem  to 
be  the  book  that  in  the  fcripture  is  called  the  book  oj  Samuel  the 

fecr,  and  Nathan  the  prophet,  and  Gad  thefetr^  as  in  1  Chron.  xx^ix. 
29.  '<  Now  the  a£ls  of  David  the  king,  firfl  and  laft,  behold,  they 
are  written  in  the  book  of  Samuel  the  feer,  and  in  the  book  of 
Nathan  the  prophet,  and  in  the  book  of  Gad  the  feer."  .'} 

XI.  The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,  is  God's  won^ 
derfully  continuing  the  kingdom  of  his  vifible  people  in  the 
line  of  Chrifli's  legal  anceftors,  as  long  as  they  remained  an  in- 
dependent kingdom. — Thus  it  was  without  any  interruption 
worth  taking  notice.  Indeed  the  kingdom  of  all  the  tribes  of 
Ifrael  was  not  kept  in  that  Ime  ;  but  the  dominion  of  that  paft 
of  Ifrael  in  which  the  true  worfhip  of  God  was  upheld,  and.Xo 
of  that  part  that  were  God's  vifible  people,  was  always  kept  in 
the  family  of  David,  as  long  as  there  was  any  fuch  thing  as  an 
independent  king  of  Ifrael  ;  according  to  his  promife  to  David; 
And  not  only  in  the  family  of  David,  but  always  in  that  Dart 

N  ^f 


to6  A    HISTORY     OF  the  Period  I. 

of  David's  poilerity  that  was  the  line  whence  Chrift  was  le<ral- 
•  ly  defccndcd  ;  fo  ^tliat  the  very  pcrfon  that  was  Chrifl's  legal 
anceftor  was  always  in  the  throne,  excepting  Jehoahaz,  who 
reigned  three  months,  and  Zedekiah  ;  as  you  may  fee  in  Mat- 
thew's genealogy  of  Chrjft. 

Chrift  was  legally  defcended  from  the  kings  of  Judah,  though 
he  was  not  naturally  dcicended  from  them.  He  was  both  Ic 
gaily  and  naturally  defcended  from  David.  Pie  was  naturally 
defcended  from  Nathan  the  fon  of  David  ;  for  Mary  his  moth- 
Jerwasonc  of  the  poilerity  of  David  by  Nathan,  as  you  mav 
'fee  in  Luke's  genealogy  :  But  Jofeph,  the  reputed  and  legal  fa- 
ther of  Chrifl,  was  naturally  defcended  of  Solomon  and  his  fuc- 
celTors,  as  we  have  an  account  in  Matthew's  genealogy.  Jefus 
Chrift,  though  he  was  not  the  natural  fon  of  Jofeph,  yet,  by  the 
law  and  conrtitution  of  the  Jews,  he  was  Jofeph's  heir  ;  be- 
caufe  he  was  the  lawful  fon  of  Jofeph's  lawful  wife,  conceived 
while  flue  was  his  legally  efpoufed  wife.  The  Holy  Ghofi;  raif- 
ed  up  feed  to  him.  A  perfon  by  the  law  of  Mofes,  might  be 
the  legal  fon  and  heir  of  another,  whofe  natural  fon  he  was  not ; 
as  fometimes  a  man  raifed  up  feed  to  his  brother  :  A  brother,  in 
fome  cafes,  was  to  build  up  a  brother's  houfe  ;  fo  the  Holy 
Ghoft  built  up  Jofeph's  houfe. 

And  Jofeph  being  in  the  direct  line  of  the  kii^gs  of  Judah, 
of  the  houfe  of  David,  he  was  the  legal  heir  of  the  crown  of 
David  ;  and  Chrift  being  legally  his  firft  born  fon,  he  was  his 
heir  ;  and  fo  Chrift,  by  the  law,  was  the  proper  heir  of  the 
crown  of  David,  and  is  therefore  faid  to  fit  upon  the  throne  of 
iiis  father  David. 

The  crown  of  God's  people  was  wonderfully  kept  in  the 
line  of  Chrift's  legal  anceftors.  When  David  was  old,  and  not 
able  any  longer  to  manage  the  affairs  of  the  kingdom,  Adoni- 
jah,  one  of  his  fons,  fet  up  to  be  king,  and  feemed  to  have  ob- 
tained his  purpofe  ;  all  things  for  a  while  feemed  fair  on 
his  fide,  and  he  thought  himfelf  ftrong  ;  the  thing  he  aimed  at 
feemed  to  be  accomplifhed.  But  fo  it  was,  Adonijah  was  not 
the  fon  of  David  that  was  the  anceftor  of  Jofeph,  the  legal  fa- 
ther of  Chrift  ;  and  therefore  how  wonderfully  did  Providence 
work  here  1  What  a  ftrange  and  fudden  revolution  !  All  Ado- 
nijah's  kingdom  and  glory  vanifhed  away  as  foon  as  it  was  be- 
gun ;  and  Solomon,  the  legal  anceftor  of  Chrift,  was  eftablifhed 

in  the  throne» 

And 


Part  V.        WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  I^  T  I  O  NT."  u,; 

And  after  Solomon's  death,  when  Jsroboam  had  confpircd 
again/l  the  family,  and  Rehoboam  carried  himfelf  fo  that  it  was 
a  wonder  all  Ifrael  was  not  provoked  to  forfakp  him,  and  ten. 
tribes  did  a^ually  fprfake  him,  and  fct  up  Jerobpam  in  oppofi- 
tion  to  him ;  and  though,  he  was  a  wicked  man,  and  defervcd  to 
have  been  reje6lcd  altogether  from  being  king  ;  yet  he  being 
the  legal  anceflor  of  Chrift,  God  kept  the  kingdom  of  the  two. 
tribes,  in  which  the  true  religion  was.  upheld,  in  his  poffeflxon  : 
And  though  he  had:  been  wicked,  and  his  fon  Abijam  waft 
another  wicked  prince  ;  yet  they  being  legal  anceftors  of  Chrift, 
God  Ihll  continued  the  crown  in  the  family,  and  gave  it  to  A- 
bijam's  fon  Afa.  And  afterwards,  though  many  of  the  kings 
of  Judah  wer«  very  wicked  men,  and  horridly  provoked  God,^ 
as  particularly  Jehoram,  Aha^iah,  Ahaz,  Mauafleh  and  Amon,^ 
yet  God  did  not  take  away  the  crown  from  their  family,  but^ 
gave  it  to  their  fons,  bccaufe  they  were  the  anceftors  of  Chrift. 
God's  remembering  his  covenant  that  he  had  eftabliflied  with 
David,  is  given  as  the  reafon  why  God  did  thus,  notwithftand- 
ing  their  wicked  lives  ;  as  i  Kings  xv.  4.  fpeaking  there  of  A- 
bijam's  wickednefs,  it  is  (aid,  "  Neyerthelefs,  for  David's  fak© 
did  the  Lord  his  God  give  him  a  lamp  in  Jerufalem,  to  fet  up 
his  fon  after  him,  and  to  eftablifh  Jerufalem  ;"  fo,  2  Chron. 
KXi.  7.  fpeaking  there  of  Jehoram's  great  wickednefs,  it  is  faid, 
*'  Howbeit,  the  Lord  would  not  deftroy  the  houfe  of  David,  bc» 
caufe  of  the  covenant  tliat  he  had  made  with  David,  and  as.  he 
promifed  to  give  a  light  unto  him,  and  to  his  fons  for  ever.'* 

The  crown  of  the  ten  tribes  was  changed  from  one  family  tQ 
another  continually.  FiT{\,  Jeroboam  took  it  ;  but  the  crown 
iemained  in  his  family  but  for  one  generation  after  his  death  ; 
it  only  defcended  to  his  fon  Nadab  :  And  then  Baafha,  that 
v/as  of  another  family,  took  it  ;  and  it  remained  in  his  pofterity 
but  one  generation  after  his  death  :  And  then  Zimri,  that  was 
his  fervant,  and  not  of  his  pofterity,  took  it  ;  and  then,  without 
defcending  at  all  to  his  pofterity,  Omri,  that  was  of  another 
family,  took  it  ;  and  the  crown  continued  in  his  family  for 
three  fucceffions  :  And  then  Jehu,  that  was  of  another  family, 
took  it ;  and  the  crown  continued  in  his  family  for  three  or 
four  fucceflions  ;  And  then  Shallum,  that  was  of  another  fam- 
ily, took  it :  And  the  crown  did  not  defcend  at  all  to  his  pof- 
terity ;  but  Mcnahem,  that  was  of  another  family,  took  it  ;  and 
it  remained  fn  hi&  family  but  one  generation  after  him  :  Ai>d 

then 


io8  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP  the  Period  I. 

then  Pekah,  that  was  of  another  family,  took  it  :  And  after 
him  Hofhea,  that  was  flill  of  another  family,  took  it  :  So  great 
a  difference  was  there  between  the  cr6wn  of  Ifrael  and  the 
crown  of  Judah  ;  the  one  was  continued  evermore  in  the  fame 
family,  and  with  very  little  interruption,  in  one  right  line  ;  the 
other  was  continually  tolled  about  from  one  family  to  another, 
as  if  it  were  the  fport  of  fortune.  The  reafon  was  not,  becaufe 
the  kings  of  Judah,  many  of  them,  were  better  than  the  kings  of 
Ifrael ;  but  the  one  had  the  bleffing  in  them  ;  they  were  the  an- 
ceftors  of  Chrift,  whofe  right  it  was  to  fit  on  the  throne  of  If- 
rael. But  with  the  kings  of  Ifrael  it  was  not  fo  ;  and  therefore 
divine  Providence  exercifed  a  continual  care,  through  all  the 
changes  that  happened  through  fo  many  generations,  and  fuch  a 
long  fpace  of  time,  to  keep  the  crown  of  Judah  in  one  direft 
line,  in  fulfilment  of  the  everlafting  covenant  he  had  made  with 
jDavid,  the  mercies  of  which  covenant  were  fure  mercies  ;  but 
in  the  other  cafe  there  was  no  fuch  covenant,  and  fo  no  fuch 
care  of  Providence. 

And  here  it  mull  not  be  omitted,  that  there  was  once  a  very 
Urong  confpiracy  of  the  kings  of  Syria  and  Ifrael,  in  the  time 
of  that  wicked  king  of  Judah,  Ahaz,  to  difpoffefs  Ahaz  and  his 
family  of  the  throne  of  Judah,  and  to  fet  one  of  another  family, 
even  the  fon  of  Tabeal  on  it;  as  you  may  fee  in  If.  vii.  6. 
*'  Let  us  go  up  againft  Judah,  and  vex  it,  and  let  us  make  a 
breach  therein  for  us,  and  fet  a  king  in  the  midft  of  it,  even 
the  fon  of  Tabeal."  And  they  feemed  very  likely  to  accomplifli 
their  purpofe. — There  feemed  to  be  fo  great  a  likelihood  of  it, 
that  the  hearts  of  the  people  funk  within  them ;  they  gave  up 
the  caufe.  It  is  faid,  "  The  heart  of  Ahaz  and  his  people  was 
moved  as  the  trees  of  the  wood  are  moved  with  the  wind." 
And  on  this  occafion  God  fent  the  prophet  Ifaiah  to  encour- 
age the  people,  and  tell  them  that  it  flaould  not  come  to  pafs. 
And  becaufe  it  looked  fo  much  like  a  gone  caufe,  that  Ahaz 
and  the  people  would  very  difficultly  believe  that  it  would  not 
be,  therefore  God  direfts  the  prophet  to  give  them  this  fign  of 
it,  viz,  that  Chrift  fhould  be  born  of  the  legal  feed  of  Ahaz  ; 
as  If.  vii.  14,  "  Therefore  the  Lord  himfelf  Ihall  give  you  a 
fign :  Behold,  a  virgin  fhall  conceive,  and  bear  a  fon,  and  fhall 
call  his  name  Immanuel."  This  was  a  good  fign,  and  a  great 
confirmation  of  the  truth  of  what  God  promifpd  by  Ifaiah,  viz. 
that  the  kings  of  Syria  and  Ifrael  fhould  never  accomplilh  their 

purpofe 


Part  V.        WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  109 

purpolc  of  difpofTcffing  tlie  family  of  Ahaz  of  the  crown  of 
judah,  and  fetting  up  the  fon  of  Tabeal  ;  for  Chriil  the  Im» 
maiiucl  was  to  be  of  then. 

I  have  mentioi^ed  this  difpenfation  of  Providence  in  this 
place,  becaufe  though  it  was  continued  for  fo  long  a  time,  yet 
it  began  in  Solomon's  fuccedion  to  tlie  throne  of  his  father 
David. 

XII.  The  next  ihing  I  would  take  notice  of  is,  the  building 
of  the  temple:  A  great  type  of  three  things,  viz.  of  Chrift,  ef- 
pccially  the  human  nature  of  Chrift ;  of  the  church  of  Chrifl ; 
and  of  heaven.  TJIe  tabernacle  feemed  rather  to  reprefent  the 
church  in  its  moveable,  changeable  ftate,  here  in  tliis  world. 
But  that  beautiful,  glorious,  colfly  ftructure  of  the  temple,  that 
iucceeded  the  tabernacle,  and  was  a  fixed,  and  not  a  moveable 
thing,  fecms  efpecially  to  reprefent  the  church  in  its  glorified 
ftate  in  heaven.  This  temple  was  built  according  to  the  pat- 
tern fhown  by  the  Holy  Ghofl  to  David,  and  by  divine  direc- 
tion given  to  David,  in  the  place  where  was  the  threfhing  floor 
of  Oman  ihc  Jebulite,  in  Mount  Moriah,  2  Chron.  iii.  1.  in 
the  fame  mountain,  and  doubtlefs  in  the  very  fame  place,  where 
Abraham  offered  up  his  fon  Ifaac  ;  for  that  is  faid  to  be  a 
mountain  in  the  land  of  Moriah,  Gen.  xxii.  2.  which  moun- 
tain was  called  the  mountain  of  the  Lord^  as  this  mountain  of  the 
temple  was,  Gen.  xxii,  14,  "  And  Abraham  called  the  name  of 
that  place  Jehovahjireh  ;  as  it  is  faid  to  this  day.  In  the  mount 
of  the  Lord  it  fliaii  be  feen.'* 

This  was  the  houfe  where  Chrift  dwelt,  until  he  came  to 
dwell  in  the  temple  of  his  body,  or  human  nature,  which  was 
the  antitype  of  this  temple  ;  as  appears,  becaufe  Chrift;,  on  oc- 
caiion  of  flrowing  him  the  temple  of  Jerufalem,  fays,  "  Deftroy 
this  temple,  and  in  three  days  will  1  raife  it  up,"  fpeaking  of 
the  temple  of  his  body,  John  ii.  19,  20.  This  houfe,  or  an 
houfe  built  in  this  place,  continued  to  be  the  houfe  of  God,  the 
place  of  the  worfnip  of  his  church,  until  Chrift  came.  Here 
was  the  place  that  God  chofe,  where  all  their  facrifices  were 
offered  up,  until  the  great  facrifice  came,  and  made  the  facrifice 
and  oblation  to  ceafe.  Into  his  temple  in  this  place  the  Lord 
came,  even  the  meffenger  of  the  covenant.  Her«  he  often  de- 
livered his  heavenly  doftrine,  and  wrought  miracles  ;  here  his 
jhurch  was  gathered  by  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit,  after  his 
iicenlion.     Luke   xxiv.    53,    fpeaking  of  the  difciples,   after 

Chrift'* 


MO  A    H  I  S  T  O  Pv  Y    OF  THE  Period!. 

Chrift's  afcenfion,  it  is  faid,  "  And  they  were  continually  in 
the  temple,  pralfmg  and  bleffing  God."  And,  Afts  ii.  46. 
fpeaking  of  the  multitudes  that  were  converteH  by  that  great 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit  that  was  on  the  day  of  Pentecofl,  it  is 
faid,  "  And  they  continued  daily  with  one  accord  in  the  tem- 
ple." And,  Ails  v.  42.  fpeakmg  of  the  apoftles,  *'  And  daily 
in  the  temple,  and  in  every  houfe,  they  ceafed  not  to  teach 
and  preach  Jefus  Chrifl/*  And  hence  the  found  of  the  gofpel 
went  forth,  and  the  church  fpread  into  all  the  world, 

XIII.  It  is  here  worthy  to  be  obferved,  that  at  this  time,  in 
Solomon's  reign,  after  the  temple  was  finifhed,  the  Jewifli 
church  was  ni'cn  to  its  higheft  external  glory.  The  Jewifii 
church,  or  the  ordinances  and  conllitution  of  it,  is  compared  to 
the  moon,  in  Rev.  xii.  i.  "  And  there  appeared  a^reat  wonder 
in  heaven,  a  woman  clothed  with  the  fun,  and  the  moon  under 
her  feet,  and  upon  her  head  a  crown  of  twelve  flars."  As 
this  church  was  like  the  moon  in  many  other  refpefts,  fo  it  was 
in  this,  that  it  waxed  and  waned  like  the  moon.  From 
the  firfl  foundation  of  it,  that  was  laid  in  the  covenant  made 
with  Abraham,  when  this  moon  was  now  beginning  to  appear, 
it  had  to  this  time  been  gradually  increafmg  in  its  glory.  This 
time,  wherein  the  temple  was  finiflied  and  dedicated,  was  about 
the  middle  between  the  calling  of  Abraham  and  the  coming  of 
Chrifl,  and  now  it  was  full  moon.  After  this  the  glory  of  the 
Jewifh  church  gradually  decrcafcd,  until  Chrlft  came  ;  as  I  fhall 
have  occafion  more  particularly  to  obferve  afterwards. 

Now  the  church  of  Ifrael  was  in  its  higheft  external  glory  : 
Now  Ifrael  was  multiplied  exceedingly,  fo  that  they  feemed  to 
have  become  like  the  fand  on  the  fea  fhorc,  1  Kings  iv.  20. 
Now  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael  was  firmly  eftablifhcd  in  the  right 
family,  the  family  of  which  Ch rift  was  to  come:  Now  God 
had  chofen  the  city  where  he  would  place  his  name:  Now 
God  had  fully  given  his  people  the  pofTefiion  of  the  promifed 
land ;  and  they  now  pofTelTcd  the  dominion  of  it  all  in  quiet- 
Jiefs  and  peace,  even  from  the  river  of  Egypt,  to  the  great  river 
Euphrates;  all  thofe  nations  that  had  formerly  been  their  ene- 
mies, quietly  fubinitted  to  them  ;  none  pretended  to  rebel  a- 
gainftthem: — -Nov/ the  Jewifh  worfhip  in  all  its  ordinances 
was  fully  fettled  : — Now,  inflead  of  a  moveable  tent  and  taber- 
ftaclCj  they  had  a  glorious  temple  ;  the  molt  magnificent,  beau- 
tiful, and  coftJy  liruft'jrc,  that  there   was  then,   ever  had  been, 

or 


Part  V.       WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  im 

or  ever  has  been  fince :  Now  the  people  enjoyed  peace  and 
plenty,  and  fat  every  man  under  his  vine  and  figtree,  eating 
and  drinking,  and  making  merry,  as  i  Kings  iv.  20. — Now 
they  were  in  the  higheft  pitch  of  earthly  prof})erity,  filver  be- 
ing as  plenty  as  flones,  and  the  land  full  of  gold  and  precious 
flones,  and  other  previous  foreign  commodities,  which  were 
brought  by  Solomon's  fhips  from  Ophir,  and  which  came  froxn 
other  parts  of  the  world  : — Now  they  had  a  king  reigning  over 
.them  that  was  the  wifefl  of  men,  and  probably  the  greateft 
earthly  prince  that  ever  was  : — Now  their  fame  v/cnt  abroad 
into  all  the  earth,  fo  that  they  came  from  the  utmoft  parts  of 
the  earth  to  fee  their  glory  and  their  happinefs. 

Thus  God  was  pleafed,  in  one  of  the  anceftors  of  Chrift,  re- 
markably to  fhadow  forth  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  reigning  in 
his  glory.  David,  that  was  a  man  of  war,  a  man  who  had  fhed 
much  blood,  and  whofe  life  was  full  of  troubles  and  conflifts, 
was  more  of  a  reprefentation  of  Chrift  in  his  ftate  of  humilia- 
tion, his  militant  ftate,  wherein  he  was  conflifting  Vvith  his  en- 
emies.  But  Solomon,  that  was  a  man  of  peace,  was  a  reprefent- 
ation more  efpecialiy  of  Chrift  exalted,  triumphing,  and  reign- 
ing in  his  kingdom  of  peace.  And  the  happy  gloiious  ftate  of 
the  Jcwifli  church  at  chat  time,  did  remarkably  reprefent  two 
things  :  1 .  That  glorious  ftate  of  the  church  on  earth  that  fhall 
be  in  the  latter  ages  of  the  world ;  thofe  days  of  peace,  when 
nation  fliall  not  lift  fword  again  ft  nation,  nor  learn  war  any 
more.  2.  The  future  glorified  ftate  of  the  church  in  heaven. 
The  earthly  Canaan  never  was  fo  lively  a  type  of  the  heavenly 
Canaan,  as  it  was  then,  when  the  happy  people  of  Urael  did  in- 
deed enjoy  it  as  a  land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey. 

XIV.  After  this  the  glory  of  the  Jcwifii  church  gradually 
declined  more  and  more  until  Chrift  came  ;  yet  not  fo  but  that 
the  work  of  redemption  ft.111  went  on.  Whatever  failed  or  de- 
clined,  God  ftill  carried  on  this  work  frorn  age  to  age  ;  this 
building  was  ftill  advancing  higher  and  higher.  Things  ftill 
went  on,  during  the  decline  of  the  Jewifli  church,  towards. a 
further  preparation  of  things  for  the  coming  of  Chrift,  as  well 
as  during  its  increafe ;  for  fo  wonderfully  were  things  ordered 
by  the  infinitely  wife  Governour  of  the  world,  that  whatever 
happened  was  ordered  for  good  to  this  general  dclign,and  madq 
a  means  of  promoting  it.  When  the  people  of  the  Jews  flour- 
ifhed,  and  were  in  profpcrity,  he  made  that  to  contribute  to  thfe 

promoting 


112  A    II  I  S  T  O  R   Y    OF    THE  reriocl  I. 

promoting  this  defign  ;  and  when  they  were  in  adverfil.y,  God 
made  that  alio  to  contribute  to  the  carrying  on  of  the  fame  de- 
fign. While  the  Jevvini  church  was  in  its  incrcahng  Hate,  the 
.work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  by  tlieir  increafe  ;  and  when 
.  they  came  to  their  declining  ftatc,  which  they  were  in  from 
Solomon's  time  until  Chrift,  God  carried  on  the  work  of  redemp- 
^  tion  by  that.  That  decline  itielf  was  one  thing  that  God  madr 
ufe  of  as  a  furtiier  preparation  for  Chrift's  coming. 

As  the  moon,  from  the  time  of  lis  full,  is  approaching  iieaier 
and  nearer  to  her  conjundlion  with  the  iun  ;  fo  her  light  is  flill 
more  and  more  decreafmg,  until  at  length,  when  the  conjunftion 
comes,  it  is  wholly  fwallowed  up  in  the  light  of  the  fun.  So  it 
was  with  the  Jewilh  church  from  the  time  of  its  highefh  glory 
in  Solomon's  time.  In  the  latter  end  of  Solomon's  reign,  the 
Hate  of  things  began  to  darken,  by  Solomon's  conuptlng  hlm- 
felf  with  idolatry,  which  mucli  obfcured  the  glory  of  this  migh- 
ty  and  wife  prince  ;  and  withal  troubles  began  to  arifc  in  his 
kingdom;  and  after  his  death  the  kingdom  was  divided,  and 
ten  tribes  revoked,  and  withdrew  their  fubjeftion  from  the  houfe 
of  David,  withal  falling  away  from  the  true  worfliip  of  God  in 
the  temple  at  Jerufalem,  and  letting  up  the  golden  calves  of 
Bethel  and  Dan.  And  prefently  after  this  the  number  of  the 
ten  tribes  was  greatly  diminifhed  in  the  battle  of  Jeroboam  with 
Abijah,  wherein  there  fell  down  ilain  of  Ijfrael  five  hundred 
thoufand  chofcn  men;  which  lofs  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael  prob- 
ably never  in  any  meafure  recovered. 

The  ten  tribes  finally  apoflatizcd  from  the  true  God  undci 
Jeroboam,  and  the  kingdom  of  Judah  was  greatly  corrupted, 
and  from  that  time  forward  were  more  generally  in  a  corrupt 
flate  than  otherwife.  In  Ahab's  time  the  kingdom  of  Ifrael 
did  not  only  worfhip  the  calves  of  Bethel  and  Dan,  but  the 
worfhip  of  Baal  was  introduced.  Before,  they  pisetended  to 
worfhip  the  true  God  by  thefe  images,  the  calves  of  Jeroboam  ; 
but  now  Ahab  introduced  grofs  idolatry,  and  the  direft  worfhip 
of  falfe  gods  in  the  room  of  the  true  God  ;  and  f bon  after  the  wor- 
fhip of  Baal  was  introduced  into  the  kingdom  of  Judah,  viz.  in 
Jehoram's  reign,  by  his  marrying  Athaliah  the  daughter  of  A- 
hab.  After  this  God  began  to  cut  Ifrael  fhort,  by  finally  de- 
ilroying  and  fending  into  captivity  that  part  of  the  land  that 
was  beyond  Jordan,  as  you  may  fee  in  2  Kings  x.  32.  &c.  And 
then  after  this  Tiglathpilezer  fubdued  and  captivated  all  the 

northern 


PartV.       WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  113 

nortliern  parts  of  the  land  ;  2  Kings  xv.  29.  and  then  at  lad  all 
the  land  of  the  ten  tribes  was  fubdued  by  Salmanefer,  and  they 
were  finally  carried  captive  out  of  their  own  land.  After  this 
alfo  the  kingdom  of  Judah  was  carried  captive  into  Babylon, 
and  a  great  part  of  the  nation  never  returned.  Thofe  that  re* 
turned  were  but  a  fmall  number,  compared  with  what  had  been 
carried  captive  ;  and  for  the  moft  part  after  this  they  were  de- 
pendent on  the  power  of  other  flates,  being  fubjeft  one  while 
to  the  kings  of  Perfia,  then  to  the  monarchy  of  the  Grecians, 
and  then  to  the  Romans.  And  before  Chrift's  time,  the  church 
of  the  Jews  was  become  exceeding  corrupt,  overrun  with  fuper- 
flition  and  felf  righteoufnefs.  And  how  fmall  a  flock  was  the 
church  of  Chrift  in  the  days  of  his  incarnation  ! 

God,  by  this  gradual  decline  of  the  Jewifh  ftate  and  church 
from  Solomon's  time,  prepared  the  way  for  the  coming  of  Chrifb 
feveral  ways. 

1.  The  decline  of  the  glory  of  this  legal  difpenfation,  made 
way  for  the  introduftion  of  the  more  glorious  difpenfation  of 
the  gofpel.     The  decline  of  the  glory  of  the  legal  difpenfatior^ 
was  to  make  way  for  the  introduftion  of  the  evangelical  difpen- 
fation,  that  was  fo  much  more  glorious,  that  the  legal  difpenfa- 
tion had  no  glory  in  comparifon  with  it.     The  glory  of  the  an- 
cient difpenfation,  fuch  as  it  was  in  Solomon's  time,   confifting 
fo  much  in  external  glory,  was  but  a  childifh  glory,   compared 
with  the  fpiritual  glory  of  the  difpenfation  introduced  by  Chriflf, 
The  church,  under  the  Old  Teftament,  was  a  child  under  tutors 
-and  governours,  and  God  dealt  with  it  as  a  child.     Thofe  pomp- 
ous externals  are  called  by  the  apoftle,  weak  and  beggarly  elements. 
It  was  fit  that  thofe  things  fhould  be  diminifhed  as  Chrift  ap- 
proached ;  as  John  the  Baptift,  the  forerunner  of  Chrift,  fpeafe- 
ing  of  Chrift,  fays,  "  He  muft  increafe,  but  I  muft  decreafcj" 
John  iii.  30.     It  is  fit  that  the  twinkling  ftars  fhould  gradually 
withdraw  their  glory,   v/hen  the  fun  is  approaching  towards  Ms 
rifing.     Th«  glory  of  the  Jewifti  difpenfation  muft  be  gradually 
diminiftied,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  more  joyful  reception  of 
the  fpiritual  glory  of  the  gofpel.     If  the  Jewifh  church,  whcix 
Chrift  came,  had  been  in  the  fame  external  glory  that  it  was  in, 
in  the  reign  of  Solomon,  men  would  have  had  their  eyes  fo  daz- 
zled with  it,  that  they  would  not  have  been  likely  joyfully  to 
exchange  fuch  great  external  glory,  for  only  the  fpiritual  glof^^ 
of  the  poor  defpifed  Jefus,    Again,  ;.'•'£ 

O  s.  This 


114  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     OF  THE  Period  I. 

!   2»  This  gradual  decline  of  the  glory  of  the  Jewifh  ftatc,  tend- 
ed to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming  another  way,  viz.  as 
it  tended  to  make  the  glory  of  God's  power,  in  the  great  effects 
of  Chrift's  redemption,   the   more   confpicuous.     God's  people 
being  fo  diminifiicd  and  weakened  by  one   flep  after   another, 
vntil  Chrift  came,  was  very  much  like  the  diminifliing  Gideon's 
army.     God   told  Gideon,   that   the  people  that  was  with  him, 
was  too  many  for  him  to  deliver  the  Midianites  into  their  hands, 
left  Ifrael   fliould  vaunt  th'emfelves  againft   him,    faying,  "  My 
own  hand  hath  faved  me."     And  therefore  all  that   were   fear- 
ful were  commanded  to  return  ;  and  there  returned  twenty  and 
two  thoufand,  and  there  remained  ten  thoufand.     But  ftill  they 
were  too  many  ;  and  then,   by  trying  the  people  at  the  water, 
they  were   reduced  to   three   hundred  men.     So   the  people  in 
Solomon's  time  were  too  many,    and  mighty,  and  glorious   for 
Chrift  ;  therefore  he  diminilhed  them  ;  firft,  by  fending  off  the 
ten  tribes  ;  and  then  he  diminiflied  them  again  by  the  captivity 
into  Babylon  ;  and  then   they  were  further   diminifned  by  the 
great  and  general  corruption  that  there  was  when  Chrift  came ; 
io  that  Chrift  found  very  few  godly  perfons  among  them  ;  And 
with  a   fmall  handful  of  difciples,  Chrift  conquered  the  world. 
Thus   high  things   were  brought  down,   that  Chrift  might  be 
exalted. 

3.  This  prepared  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming,  as  it  made  the 
falvation  of  thofe  Jews  that  were  faved  by  Chrift,  to  be  more 
fenfible  and  vifible.  Though  the  greater  part  of  the  nation  of 
the  Jews  was  rejected,  and  the  Gentiles  called  in  their  room  ; 
yet  there  were  a  great  many  thoufands  of  the  Jews  that  were 
faved  by  Chrift.  after  his  refurreftion,  A6ls  xxi.  20.  They  be- 
ing taken  from  fo  low  a  ftate  under  temporal  calamity  in  their 
bondage  to  the  Romans,  and  from  a  ftate  of  great  fuperftition 
and  wickednefs,  that  the  Jewifh  nation  was  then  fallen  into  -,  it 
made  their  redemption  the  more  fenfibly  and  viftbly  glorious. 

1  have  taken  natice  of  this  difpenfation  of  Providence  in  the 
gradual  decline  of  the  Jcwifli  church  in  this  place,  becaufe  ;tt 
began  in  the  reign  of  Solomon, 

XV.  I  would  here  take  notice  of  the  additions  that  were 
3nade  to  the  canon  of  fcripture  in  or  foon  after  the  reign  af  Sol- 
omonc  There  were  confidcrable  additions  made  by  Solomon 
Bimfelf,  who  wrote  the  books  of  Proverbs  and  Ecclefiaftes, 
probably  new  the  clofc  of  his  reign.    His  writing  the  Song  of 

Songs, 


PartV.       WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  xV.  115 

Songs,  as  it  is  called,  is  what  is  efpecially  here  to  be  taken  no- 
tice of,  which  is  wholly  on  the  fubjetl  that  we  arc  upon,  viz* 
Chrift  and  his  redemption,  reprefenting  the  high  and  glorious 
relation,  and  union,  and  love,  that  is  between  Chrift  and  his 
redeemed  church.  And  the  hiftory  of  the  fcripture  feems,  in 
Solomon's  reign,  and  fome  of  the  next  fucceeding  reigns,  to 
have  been  added  to  by  the  prophets  Nathan  and  Ahijah,  and 
Shemaiah  and  Iddo.  It  is  probable  thait  part  of  the  hiftory 
which  we  have  in  the  firfl:  of  Kings,  was  written  by  them,  by 
what  is  faid,  2  Chron.  ix.  29.  and  in  chap.  xii.  15.  and  in 
chap.  xiii.  22. 

XVI.  God's  wonderfully  upholding  his  church  and  the  true 
religion  through  this  period.  It  was  very  wonderful  confider" 
ing  the  many  and  great  apoilafics  that  there  were  of  that  people 
to  idolatry.  M'^hen  the  ten  tribes  had  generally  and  finally  for- 
I'aken  the  true  worftiip  of  God,  God  kept  up  the  true  religion 
in  the  kingdom  of  Judah  ;  and  when  they  corrupted  themfelves, 
as  they  very  often  did  exceedingly,  and  idolatry  was  ready  to- 
tally to  fwallow  all  up,  yet  God  kept  the  lamp  alive,  and  wais 
pften  pleafed,  when  things  feemed  to  be  come  to  an  extremity, 
and  religion  at  its  laft  gafp,  to  grant  bleffed  revivals  by  remark- 
able outpourings  of  his  fpirit,  particularly  in  Hezekiah's  and 
Jofiah's  time. 

XVII.  God  remarkably  kept  the  book  of  the  law  from  be- 
ing loft  in  times  of  general  and  long  continued  negkft  of  and 
enmity  againft  it.  The  moft  remarkable  inftance  of  this  kind 
that  we  have,  was  the  prelervation  of  the  book  of  the  law  in 
the  time  of  the  great  apoftafy  during  the  greateft  part  of  the 
long  reign  of  Manaffeh,  which  laftcd  fifty  five  years,  and  then 
after  that  the  reign  of  Amon  his  fon.  This  while  the  book  ql 
the  law  was  fo  much  negleded,  and  fuch  a  carelefs  and  profane 
management  of  the  affairs  of  the  temple  prevailed,  that  the  book 
of  the  law,  that  ufed  to  be  laid  up  by  the  fide  of  the  ark  in  the 
Holy  of  Holies,  was  loft  for  a  long  time  ;  no  body  knew  where 
it  was.  But  yet  God  preferved  it  from  being  finally  loft.  In 
Jofiah's  time,  when  they  came  to  repair  the  temple,  it  was  found 
buried  in  rubbifti,  after  it  had  been  loft  fo  long  that  Jofiah  him- 
felf  feems  to  have  been  much  a  ftranger  to  it  until  now.— -Sec 
2  Kings  xxii.  8.  &c. 

XVIII.  God's  remarkably  preferving  the  tribe  of  which 
Chrift  was  to  proceed,  from  being  ruined  through  the  many  and 

great 


ii6  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP  THE  Period  I. 

great  dangers  of  this  period.  The  vifible  church  of  Chrill  from 
Solomon's  reign,  was  mainly  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.  The  tribe 
of  Benjamin,  that  was  annexed  to  them,  was  but  a  very  fmall 
itribe,  and  the  tribe  of  Judah  exceeding  large  ;  and  as  Judali 
took  Benjamin  under  his  covert  when  he  went  into  Egypt  to 
bring  corn,  fo  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  feemed  to  be  under  the 
covert  of  Judah  ever  after  :  And  though,  on  occafion  of  Jero- 
boam's fetting  up  the  calves  at  Bethel  and  Dan,  the  Levites  re- 
ibrted  to  Judah  out  of  all  the  tribes  of  Ifrael,  (2.  Chron.  xi. 
13.)  yet  they  were  alfo  fmall,  and  not  reckoned  among  the 
tribes  :  And  though  many  of  the  ten  tribes  did  alfo  on  that  oc- 
cafion, for  the  fake  of  the  worfhip  of  God  in  the  temple,  leave 
their  inheritances  in  their  feveral  tribes,  and  removed  and  fet- 
tled in  Judah,  and  fo  were  incorporated  with  them,  as  we  have 
an  account  in  the  chapter  jufl  quoted,  and  16th  verfe  ;  yet  the 
tribe  of  Judah  was  fo  much  the  prevailing  part,  that  they  were 
called  by  one  name,  they  were  called  jfudak  :  Therefore  God 
faid  to  Solomon,  1  Kings  xi.  13.  '1  I  will  not  rend  away  all  the 
kingdom  ;  but  will  give  one  tribe  to  thy  fon,  for  David  my  fer- 
vant*s  fake,  and  for  Jerufalem's  fake,  which  I  have  chofen,"  and 
fo  ver.  32.  36.  So  when  the  ten  tribes  were  carried  captive,  it 
is  faid,  there  was  none  left  but  the  tribe  of  Judah  only  :  2  Kings 
xvii.  18.  "  Therefore  the  Lord  was  very  wroth  with  Ifrael,  and 
removed  them  out  of  his  fight .:  There  was  none  left  but  the 
tribe  of  Judah  only."  Whence  they  were  all  called  Jews, 
jW.hich  is  a  word  that  comes  from  Judah. 

This  was  the  tribe  of  which  Chrift  was  to  come  ;  and  in  this 
chiefly  did  God's  vifible  church  confifl,  from  Solomon's  time  : 
And  this  was  the  people  over  whom  the  kings  that  were  legal 

^nceftors  of  Chrift,  and  were  of  the  houfe  of  David,  reigned.  . 

^his  people  was  wonderfully  preferved  from  deftruftion  during 
this  period  ;  when  they  often  feemed  to  be  upon  the  brink  of 
jruin,  and  juft  ready  to  be  fwallowed  up.  So  it  was  in  Reho- 
,  beam's  time,  when  Shifliak  king  of  £gypt  came  againfb  Judah 
with  fuch  a  vaft  force  ;  yet  then  God  manifedly  preferved  them 
from  being  deftroyed.  Of  this  we  read  in  the  beginning  of  the 
12th  chapter  of  2  Chronicles.  So  it  was  again  in  Abijah's  time, 
■when  Jeroboam  fet  the  battle  in  array  againll  him  with  eight 
hundred  thoufand  chofen  men  ;  a  mighty  army  indeed.  We 
jread  of  it, ,,  *  Chron.  xiii.  3,  Then  God  wrought  deliverance 
tojudahj  out  of  regard  to  the  covenant  of  grace  eftablifhed 

with 


Part  V.      W  O  R  K    o?    il  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N,  i ly 

with  David,  as  is  evident  by  vcr.  4.  and  5.  and  the  viclory  they 
obtained  was  becaufe  the  Lord  was  on  their  hde,  as  you  may 
fee,  ver.  12,  So  it  was  again  in  Afa's  time,  wh.cn  Zcrah  the 
Ethiopian  came  againfl  him  with  a  yet  larger  army  of  a  thou-  ] 
fand  thoufand,  and  three  hundred  chariots,  2  Chron,  xiv.  9. 
On  this  occafion  Afa.  cried  to  the  Lord,  and  truflcd  in  him,  be- 
ing fcnfible  that  it  was  nothing  with  him  to  help  thofe  that  had 
no  power;  vcr.  11.  "  And  Afa  cried  unto  the  Lord  his  God, 
and  faid,  Lord,  it  is  nothing  with  thee  to  help,  whether  with 
many,  or  with  thofe  that  have  no  power."  And  accordingly 
God  gave  them  a  glorious  viftory  over  this  mighty  hoft. 

So  again  it  was  in  Jehofhaphat's  time,  when  the  children  of 
Moab,  and  the  children  of  Ammon,  and  the  inhabitants  of 
Mount  Seir,  combined  together  againfl  Judah  with  a  mighty 
army,  a  force  vaftly  fuperiour  to  any  that  Jehofliaphat  could 
raife  ;  and  Jehofhaphat  and  his  people  were  greatly  afraid  : 
Yet  they  fet  themfelves  to  feek  God  on  this  occahon,  and  trufl:- 
ed  in  him  ;  and  God  told  them  by  one  of  his  prophets,  that 
they  need  not  fear  them,  nor  fhould  they  have  any  occafion  to 
fiprht  in  this  battle,  they  fhould  only  {land  flill  and  fee  the  fal- 
vation  of  the  Lord.  And  according  to  his  direftion,  they  only 
flood  Hill,  and  fang  praifes  to  God,  and  God  made  their  ene- 
mies do  the  work  themfelves,  and  fet  them  to  killing  one  anoth- 
er ;  and  the  children  of  Judah  had  nothing  to  do,  but  to  gath- 
er the  fpoil,  which  was  more  than  they  could  carry  away.  We 
have  the  flory  in  2  Chron.  xx. 

So  it  was  again  in  Ahaz's  time,  when  Rezin  the  king  of  Syria, 
and  Pekah  the  fon  of  Remaliah,  the  king  of  Ifrael,  confpired  a- 
gainfl  Judah,  and  feemed  to  be  fure  of  their  purpofe  ;  of  which 
we  have  fpoken  already.  So  it  was  again  in  Hezekiah's  tim^^ 
when  Sennacherib,  that  great  king  of  Affyria,  and  head  of  th<P 
greateft  monarchy  that  was  then  in  the  world,  came  up  againfl 
all  the  fenced  cities  of  Judah,  after  he  had  conquered  moft  of  the 
neighbouring  countries,  and  fent  Rabfhakeh,  the  captain  of  his 
Jiofl,  againfl  Jerufalem,  who  came,  and  in  a  very  proud  and 
fcornful  manner  infulted  Hezekiah  and  his  people,  as  being 
fure  of  viftory  ;  and  the  people  were  trembling  for  fear,  like 
Iambs  before  a  lion.  Then  God  fent  Ifaiah  the  prophet  to 
comfort  them,  and  affure  them  that  they  fhould  not  prevail  ;  as 
a  token  of  which  he  gave  them  this  fign,  viz.  that  the  earth,  for 
two  years  fuccefiively,  Oiould  bring  forth  {pod  of  itfelf,  from  the 

roots 


*i8  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  I. 

roots  of  the  old  flalks,  without  their  ploughing  or  fowing  ;  and 
then  the  third  year  they  fhould  fow  and  reap,  and  plant  vine- 
yards, and  eat  the  fruit  of  them,  and  live  on  the  fruits  of  their 
labour,  as  they  were  wont  to  do  before.  See  2  Kings  xix.  29, 
This  is  mentioned  as  a  type  of  what  is  promifed  in  ver,  30,  31. 
**  And  thQ  remnant  that  is  efcaped  of  the  houfe  of  Judah,  fliall 
yet  again  take  root  downward,  and  bear  fruit  upward.  For  out 
of  Jerufalem  fhall  go  forth  a  remnant,  and  they  that  cfcape,  out 
of  Mount  Zion  :  The  zeal  of  the  Lord  of  hofls  fhall  do  this." 
The  corn's  fpringing  again  after  it  had  been  cut  off  with  the 
{ickle,  and  bringing  forth  another  crop  from  the  roots,  that 
(cemedto  be  dead,  and  fo  once  and  again,  reprefents  the  church's 
reviving  again,  as  it  were  out  of  its  own  afhes,  and  floUrifhing 
like  a  plant  after  it  had  feemingly  been  cut  down  pad  recovery. 
When  the  enemies  of  the  church  have  done  their  utmoft,  and 
ieem  to  have  gained  their  point,  and  to  have  overthrown  the 
church,  fo  that  the  being  of  it  is  fcarcely  vifible,  but  like  a  liv- 
ing root  hid  under  ground ;  yet  there  is  a  fecret  life  in  it  that 
will  caufe  it  to  flourifh  again,  and  to  take  root  downward,  and 
bear  fruit  upward.  This  was  fulfilled  now  at  this  time :  For 
the  king  of  AfTyria  had  already  taken  and  carried  captive  the 
ten  tribes ;  and  Sennacherib  had  aUo  taken  all  the  fenced  cities 
of  Judah,  and  ranged  the  country  round  about,  and  Jerufalem 
only  remained  ;  and  Rabfhakeh  had  in  his  own  imagination  al- 
ready fwallowed  that  up,  as  he  had  alfo  in  the  fearful  apprehcn- 
iions  of  the  Jews  themfelves.  But  yet  God  wrought  a  won- 
derful deliverance.  He  fent  an  angel,  that  in  one  night  fmote 
an  hundred  fourfcore  and  five  thoufand  in  the  enemy's  camp. 
XIX.  In  the  reign  of  Uzziah,  and  the  following  reigns,  God 
j^as  pleafed  to  raife  up  a  fet  of  eminent  prophets,  who  fhould 
C;ommit  their  prophecies  to  writing,  and  leave  them  for  the  ufe 
of  his  church  in  all  ages.  We  before  obfervcd,  how  that  God 
began  a  conftant  fucceflion  of  prophets  in  Ifrael  in  Samuel's 
time,  and  many  of  thefe  prophets  wrote  by  divine  infpiration, 
and  fo  added  to  the  canon  of  fcripture  before  Uzziah's  time. 
But  none  of  them  are  fuppofed  to  have  written  books  of  proph- 
ecies until  now.  Several  of  them  wrote  hiftories  of  the  wonderful 
difpenfations  of  God  towards  his  church.  This  we  have  obferved 
already  of  Samuel,  who  is  fuppofed  to  have  written  Judges  and 
Ruthj  and  part  of  the  firft  of  Samuel,  if  not  the  book  of  Jofhua. 
And  Nathan  and  Gad  feem  to  have  written  the  reft  of  the  two 

books 


Part  V.        WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  119 

books  of  Samuel :  And  Nathan,  with  Ahljah  and  Iddo,  wrote 
the  hiflory  of  vSolomon,  which  is  probably  that  which  we  have 
in  the  firfl  book  of  Kings.  The  hiilory  of  Ifrael  Teems  to  hava 
been  further  carried  on  by  Iddo  and  Shemaiah  :  2  Chron.  xii. 
15,  *•  Now  the  a£ls  of  Rehoboam,  firft  and  lal>,  ^  Are  they  not 
written  in  the  book  of  Shemaiah  the  prophet,  and  Iddo  the 
feer,  concerning  genealogies  ?"  And  after  that  the  hiflory 
fcems  to  have  been  further  carried  on  by  the  prophet  Jehu,  the 
fon  of  Hanani :  2  Chron,  xx,  34.  '*  Now  the  red  of  the  a£ls  of 
Jehofhaphat,  firft  and  laft,  behold,  they  are  written  in  the  book 
of  Jehu,  the  fon  of  Hanani,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  book  of 
the  kings  of  Ifrael,"  as  we  find  him  to  be,  1  Kings  xvi,  i,  y. 
And  then  it  was  further  continued  by  the  Prophet  Ifaiah :  « 
Chron.  xxvi.  22.  "  Now  the  refl  of  the  a6ls  of  Uzziah,  firft 
and  lafl,  did  Ifaiah  the  prophet  the  fon  of  Amoz  write."  He 
probably  did  it  as  well  in  the  fecond  book  of  Kings,  as  in  the 
book  of  his  prophecy.  And  the  hillory  was  earned  on  and 
finifhed  by  other  prophets  after  him. 

Thus  the  prpphets,  even  from  Samuel's  time,  had  from  time 
to  time  been  adding  to  the  canon  of  fcripture  by  their  hiftorical 
writings.  But  now,  in  the  days  of  Uzziah,  did  God  firfl  raifc 
up  a  fet  of  great  prophets,  not  only  to  write  hiflories,  but  to 
write  books  of  their  prophecies.  The  firfl  of  thefe  is  thought 
to  be  Hofea  the  fon  of  Becri,  and  therefore  his  prophecy,  or 
the  word  of  the  Lord  by  him,  is  called  the  beginning  of  the  zuord 
of  the  Lord:  as  Hof.  i.  2.  "  The  beginning  of  the  word  of  the 
.  Lord  by  Hofea ;"  that  is,  the  beginning,  or  the  firfl  part,  of  the 
written  word  of  that  kind,  viz.  that  which  is  written  in  books 
of  prophecy.  He  prophcficd  in  the  days  of  Uzziah,  Jotham, 
Ahaz,  and  Hezekiah,  kings  of  Judali,  and  in  the  days  of  Jcro-r^ 
boam,  the  fon  of  Joafh,  king  of  Ifrael.  There  were  many  oth- 
er witnefTes  for  God  railed  up  about  the  fame  time,  to  commit 
their  prophecies  to  writing,  Ifaiah,  and  Amos,  and  Jonah,  and 
Micah,  and  Nahum,  and  probably  fome  others  ;  and  fo  from 
that  time  forward  God  fcemed  to  continue  a  fucccirion  of  writ- 
ing prophets. 

This  was  a  great  difpenfation  of  Providence,  and  a  great  ad- 
vance made  in  the  affair  of  redemption,  which  appears,  if  wc 
confider  what  was  faid  before,  that  the  main  bufinefs  of  the 
prophets  was  to  forefhew  Chrifl  and  his  redomption.  They 
were  all  forerunners  of  the  great  prophet.     Tije  main  end  why 

the 


t2o  A    H  i  S   r  U  K  Y    OF    I  HE  Period  I. 

the  fphit  of  prophecy  was  given  them  was,  that  they  might 
give  teftimony  to  Jefus  Chrill,  the  great  Redeemer,  that  was  to 
come;  and  therefore  the  tellimony  of  Jcfus,  and'the  fpirit  of 
prophecy,  are  fpoken  of  as  the  fame  thing  :.  Rev.  xix.  lo. 
f«'  And  I  fell  at  his  feet  to  worfhip  him  :  And  ho  faid  unto  me, 
See  thou  do  it  not:  I  air;i  thy  fellow  fervant,  and  of  thy  breth- 
ren that  have  the  teftimony  of  Jefus  :  Worfhip  God  :  For  the 
teflimony  of  Jefus  is  the  fpirit  of  prophecy,"  And  therefore 
we  find,  that  the  great  and  main  thing  that  the  moft  of  the 
prophets  in  their  written  prophecies  infifl  upon,  is  Chrift  and 
his  redemption,  and  the  glorious  times  of  the  gofpel,  which 
fhould  be  in  the  latter  days,  according  to  their  manner  of  ex- 
preflion.  And  though  many  other  things  were  fpoken  of  in 
their  prophecies,  yet  it  feems  to  be  only  as  introdu6lory  to 
their  prophecy  of  thefe  great  things.  Whatever  they  prophe- 
fy  of,  here  there  propliecies  commonly  terminate,  as  you  may 
iee  by  a  careful  perufal  of  their  writings. 

Thefe  prophets  were  fet  to  writing  their  prophecies  by  the 
Spirit  of  Chrt'ft  that  was  in  them,  chiefly  for  that  end,  to  fore- 
fhow  and  prepare  the  way  for  the  coming  of  Chrift,  and  the 
glory  that  fhould  follow.  And  in  what  an  exalted  flrain  do  they 
all  fpeak  of  thofe  things !  Many  other  things  they  fpeak  of  ia 
men's  ufual  language.  But  when  they  come  upon  this  fubjeft;, 
what  a  joyful  heavenly  fublimity  is  there  in  the  language  they  ufe 
about  it !  Some  of  them  are  very  particular  and  full  in  their 
prediftions  of  thefe  things,  and  above  all  the  Prophet  Ifaiah, 
>vho  is  therefore  defervedly  called  the  evangelical  prophet. — He 
feems  to  teach  the  glorious  doftrines  of  the  gofpel  almofl  as 
plainly  as  the  apoftles  did,  who  preached  after  Chrift  was  actu- 
ally come.  The  Apoftle  Paul  therefore  takes  notice,  that  the 
Prophet  Efaias  is  very  bold,  Rom.  x.  20.  i.  e.  as  the  meaning 
of  the  word,  as  ufed  in  the  New  Teftament,  is  very  plain,  he 
fpeaks  out  very  plainly  and  fully  ;  fo  being  «•  very  bold"  is  ufed, 
«  Cor.  iii.  12.  we  ufe  "  great  plainnefs  of  fpeech,"  or  "  bold- 
nefs,"  as  it  is  in  the  margin. 

How  plainly  and  fully  does  the  Prophet  Ifaiah  defcribe  the 
manner  and  circumftances,  the  nature  and  end,  of  the  fufferings 
and  facrifice  of  Chrift,  in  the  53d  chapter  of  his  prophecy. 
There  is  fcarce  a  chapter  in  the  New  Teftament  itfelf  which  is 
more  full  on  it !  and  how  much,  and  in  what  a  glorious  ftrain,  does 

the  fame  prophet  fpeak  from  time  to  time  of  the  glorious  bene- 
fit? 


Part   VI.      WO  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  PTI  O  N,        121 

fits  of  Chrift,  the  unfpeakable  bleffings  which  (hall  redound  to 
his  church  through  his  redemption  !  Jefus  Chrift,  the  perlon  that 
this  prophet  fpoke  fo  much  of,  once  appeared  to  Ifaiah  in  the  form 
of  the  human  nature,  the  nature  that  he  fhould  afterwards  take 
upon  him.  We  have  an  account  ®f  it  in  the  6th  chapter  of 
his  prophecy  at  the  beginning  :  "  I  faw  alfo  the  Lord  fitting  on 
a  throne,  high  and  lifted  up,  and  his  train  filled  the  temple,'* 
&c.  This  was  Chrill  that  Ifaiah  now  faw,  as  we  are  exprefsly 
told  in  the  New  Teflament.     See  John  xii.  39,  40,  41. 

And  if  we  confider  the  abundant  prophecies  of  this  and  the 
other  prophets,  ^  What  a  great  increafe  is  thereof  the  light  of  the 
gofpel,  which  had  been  growing  from  the  fall  of  man  to  this 
day  ? — ^1  How  plentiful  are  the  revelations  and  prophecies  o£ 
Chrift  now,  to  what  they  were  in  the  firfl  period  of  the  Old 
Teftament,  from  Adam  to  Noah  ? — ^  Or  to  what  they  were  in 
the  fecond,  from  Noah  to  Abraham? — ^i  Or  to  what  they  were 
before  Mofes,  or  in  the  time  of  .Mofes,  Joftiua,  and  the  Judges  ? 
This  difpenfation  that  we  are  now  fpeaking  of,  was  alfo  a  glo- 
rious advance  of  the  work  of  redemption  by  the  great  additions 
that  were  made  to  the  canon  of  fcripture.  Great  part  of  the 
Old  Teftament  was  written  now  from  the  days  of  Uzziah  to  the 
captivity  into  Babylon,  And,  ^  How  excellent  are  thofe  por- 
tions of  it  ? — ^i  What  a  precious  treafure  have  thofe  prophets 
committed  to  the  church  of  God,  tending  greatly  to  confirm, 
the  gofpel  of  Chrift  ?  and  which  has  been  of  great  comfort  and 
benefit  to  God's  church  in  all  ages  fince,  and  doubtlefs  will  be 
to  the  end  of  the  world. 


P    A     R     T        VI. 
From  the  Babylonish  Captivity  to  the  Coming  of  Chkist, 

1  COME  now  to  the  laft  period  of  the  Old  Teftament,  viz. 
that  which  begins  with  the  Babylonijh  captivity,  and  extends  to 
the  coming  of  Chrift,  being  the  greateft  part  of  fix  hundred  years, 
to  fhew  how  the  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  through 
this  period. 

But  before  I  «nter  upon  particulars,  I  would  obfervc  in  three 
things  wherein  this  period  is  diftinguiftied  from  the  preceding 
periods  of  the  times  of  the  Old  Teftament, 

P  1,  Though 


122  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  V    OF  THE  Period  I. 

I.  Though  we  \iave  no  accpunt  of  a  great  part  of  this  period 
ip  the  fcriptyrp  hiftovj^,  yftjhp  CY^nts  of  this  period  are  more 
the  fubje£l  of  fcriptvire  prophep.y,  than  any  of  the  preceding  pe- 
riods.    There  are  two  ways  wherein  the  fcriptures  give  account 
gf  the   events  by  which  the  work   of  redemption  is  carried  on  ; 
one  is  by  hiilory,  and  another  is  by  prophecy  :  And   in  one  or 
the  other  of  thefe  \vays  we  have  contained  in  the  fcriptures   an 
account  how  the  work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  end.     Although  tbe  fcriptures  do  not  contain  a 
proper  hiflory  of  the  whole,  yet  there   is  contained   the  whole 
chain  of  great  events  by  which  this  affair  hath  been  carried  oi> 
from  the  foundatiop,  foon  after  the  fall  of  man,  to  the  finifhing 
of  it  at  the  end  of  the  ^orld,  either   in   hiftory  or  prophecy. 
And  it  is  to  be  pbferved,   that   where  the   fcripture  is  wanting 
in  one  of  thefe  ways,  it  is  made  up  in  the  other. — Vv^here  fcrip- 
ture hiflory  fails,  there  prophecy  takes  place  ;  fo   that  the  ac- 
count is  ftill   carried  on,  and  the  chain  is  not  broken,  until  we 
come  to  the  very  lad  link  of  it  in  the  confummation  of  all  things. 
And  accordingly  it  is  obfervable  of  this  period  or   fpace  of 
time  that  we  are  upon,  that  though  it  is  fo  much  lefs  the  fub- 
je6l  of  fcripture  hiftory^  than  moft  of  the  preceding  periods,  fo 
tjiat  there  is  above  four  hundred  years  of  it  that  the   fcriptures 
give  us  no  hiflory  of  ;  yet  the  events  of  this  period  are  more 
|;he  fubje6l  of  fcripture  prophecy,  than  the  events  of  all  the  pre- 
ceding periods  put  together.     Moll  of  thofe  remarkable  proph- 
ecies of  the  book  of  Daniel  do  refer  to  events  that  were  accom- 
plifhed  in  this   period  :  So  mofl  of  thofe  prophecies  in  Ifaiah, 
and  Jeremiah,   and  Ezekiel,   againfl  Babylon,    and  Tyrus,   and 
againfl  Egypt,   and  many  other  nations,  were  fulfilled  in  this 
period. 

So  that  the  reafon  why  the  fcriptures  give  us  no  hiflory  of 
fo  great  a  part  of  this  period,  is  not  becaufe  the  events  of  this 
period  were  not  fo  important,  or  lefs  worthy  to  be  taken  no- 
tice of,  than  the  events  of  the  foregoing  periods  ;  for  I  fl-iall 
hereafter  (how  how  great  and  diflinguifhedly  remarkable  the 
events  of  this  period  were.  But  there  are  feveral  other  reafons 
•^vrhich  may  be  given  of  it.  One  is,  that  it  was  the  will  of  God 
tjbat  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  fhould  ceafe  in  this  period,  (for  rea- 
fons that  may  be  given  hereafter  ;)  fo  that  there  were  no  proph- 
"Cts  to  write  the  hiftory  of  thefe  times  ;  and  therefore  God  de- 
;^gntjn^  thi»|  to^k  cajre  that  the  great   events  of  this  period 

^  ihould 


J^art  VI.       WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  1^  T  1  O  N.        t^ 

ihould  not  be  without  mention  in  his  word  ;  and  fd  Ordered  Tt^ 
that  the  prophecies  of  fcripturc  fhould  be  more  full  here,  thari 
in  the  preceding  periods.  It  is  obfeivable,  that  that  fct  bt 
writing  prophets  that  God  raifed  up  in  Ifrabl,  were  iraifcd  up  at 
the  latter  end  of  the  foregoing  period,  and  at  the  beginning  oT 
this  ;  which  it  is  likely  was  partly  for  that  reafon,  that  the 
time  was  now  approaching,  of  which  the  fpirit  of  prophecjr 
having  ceafed,  there  was  to  be  ho  fcripture  hiftory,  and  there- 
fore no  other  fcripture  account  but  what  was  given  in  prophecy. 

And  another  reafon  that  may  be  given  why  there  was  fo  great 
a  part  of  this  period  left  without  ah  hiflorical  account  in  fcrip- 
ture, is,  that  God  in  his  providence  took  CaVe,  that  there  fhould 
be  authentick  and  full  accounts  of  the  events  of  this  period 
preferved  in  profane  hiflory.  It  is  remarkable,  and  very  wor*- 
thy  to  be  taken  notice  of,  that  with  refpeft  to  the  events  of  th'e 
five  preceding  periods,  of  which  the  fcriptures  give  the  hiftory, 
profane  hiftory  gives  us  no  account,  or  4t  leafl  of  but  very  'few 
of  them.  There  are  many  fabulous  and  uiicertaih  accouriVs  of 
things  that  happened  before  ;  but  the  beginning  of  the  times  of 
authentick  profane  hiftory  i§  judged  to  be  but  a  little  beforfe 
Nebuchadnezzar's  time,  aboiit  an  hundred  years  before.  Tli^ 
learned  men  among  the  Greeks  and  Romaris  ufed  to  cill  tile 
ages  before  that  the  fabulous  age  ;  but  the  times  after  that  they 
called  the  hiflorical  agc»  And  from  about  that  time  to  the  corriing 
of  Chrift,  we  have  undoubted  accounts  \i\  ^rbfane  hiftory  of 
the  principal  events  ;  kccounts  that  w'Onderfiilly  agfce  witH  the 
many  prophecies  that  We  have  in  fcripture  of  thofe  times. 

Thus  did  the  great  God,  that  difpofes  all  things,  order  it.-  Hie 
took  care  to  give  an  hiftorical  account  of  things  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world,  through  all  thofe  former  ages  which  prb- 
fane  hiftory  does  not  reach,  iirid  ceafed  not  until  he  came  to 
thofe  later  ages  in  which  profane  hiftory  related  thfngis  wl'tii 
fome  certainty  :  And  concerning  thofe  times,  he  gives  ti§  abim- 
dant  account  in  prophecy,  that  by  cothparing  profane  hiftbty 
with  thofe  prophecies,  We  might  fee  the  agreement. 

2.  iThis  period  being  the  laft  period  of  the  Old  Teftartiftilt, 
and  the  next  to  the  coming  of  Chrift,  feems  to  have  beert  r'e- 
markably  diftinguifhed  from  all  others  in  the  great  revolutibiis 
that  were  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  to  make  way  for  tl«c 
kingdom  of  Chrift,  The  time  novir  drawing  nigh,  wherein 
Chrift^  the  great  King  and  Saviour  of  the  world,  was  to  come, 

great 


1^4  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  I. 

great  and  mighty  were  the  changes  that  were  brought  to  pafs  in 
order  to  it.  The  way  had  been  preparing  for  the  coming  of 
Chrift  from  the  fall  of  man,  through  all  the  foregoing  periods  : 
But  now  the  time  drawing  nigh,  things  began  to  ripen  apace 
for  Chrift's  coming  ;  and  therefore  divine  Providence  wrought 
wonderfully  now.  The  greateft  revolutions  that  any  hiftory 
whatfoever  gives  an  account  of,  that  ever  had  been  from  the 
flood,  fell  out  in  this  period.  Almoft  all  the  then  known  world, 
i,  e.  all  the  nations  that  were  round  about  the  land  of  Canaan, 
far  and  near,  that  were  within  the  reach  of  their  knowledge, 
were  overturned  again  and  again.  All  lands  were  in  their  turns 
fubdued,  captivated,  and  as  it  were  emptied,  and  turned  upfide 
down,  and  that  moft  of  them  repeatedly,  in  this  period  ;  agree- 
able to  that  prophecy,  If,  xxiv.  i.  "  Behold,  the  Lord  maketh 
the  earth  empty  ;  he  maketh  it  wafle,  and  turneth  it  upfide 
down,  and  fcattereth  abroad  the  inhabitants  thereof," 

This  emptying,  and  turning  upiide  down,  began  with  God's 
vilible  churcji,  in  their  captivity  by  the  king  of  Babylon,  And 
then  the  cup  from  them  went  round  to  all  other  nations,  agree- 
able to  what  God  revealed  to  the  Prophet  Jeremiah,  xxv.  15.— 
s.*].  Here  fpecial  refpe£t  feems  to  be  had  to  the  great  revolu- 
tions that  there  were  on  the  face  of  the  earth  in  the  times  of  the 
Babyloniih  empire,  But  after  that  there  were  three  general 
overturnings  of  the  world  before  Chrift  came,  in  the  fucceffion 
of  the  three  great  monarchies  of  the  world  that  were  after  the 
Babylonifh  empire.  The  king  of  Babylon  is  reprefented  in 
fcripture  as  overturning  the  world  :  But  after  that,  the  Baby- 
lonifh empire  was  overthrown  by  Cyrus  ;  who  founded  the  Per- 
fian  empire  in  the  room  of  it  ;  which  was  of  much  greater  ex- 
tent than  the  Babylonifh  empire  in  its  greateft  glory.  Thus  the 
world  was  overturned  the  fecond  time.  And  then,  after  that, 
the  Perfian  empire  was  overthrown  by  Alexander,  and  the 
Grecian  empire  was  fet  up  upon  the  ruins  of  it  ;  which  -was 
flill  of  much  greater  extent  than  the  Perfian  empire  :  And  thus 
there  was  a  general  overturning  of  the  world  a  third  time,  An<l 
then,  after  that,  the  Grecian  empire  was  overthrown  by  the 
Romans,  and  the  Roman  empire  was  eftablifhed  ;  which  vaftly 
exceeded  all  the  foregoing  empires  in  power  and  extent  of  do- 
.^inion.     And  fo  the  world  was  overturned  the  fourth  time. 

Thefe  feveral  monarchies,   and  the  great  revolutions  of  the 
yrorld  under  them,  are  abundantly  fcokcn  of  in  the  prophecies 

of 


Part  VI.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  125 

of  Daniel.  They  arc  reprefented  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  image  of 
gold,  filver,  brafs,  and  iron,  and  Daniel's  interpretation  of  it  in 
the  2d  chapter  of  Daniel  ;  and  then  in  Daniel's  vifion  of  the 
four  beafts,  and  the  angel's  interpretation  of  it  in  the  7th  chap- 
ter of  Daniel.  And  the  fuccelTion  of  the  Perfian  and  Grecian 
monarchies  is  more  particularly  reprefented  in  the  8lh  chapter 
in  Daniel's  vifion  of  the  ram  and  the  he  goat,  and  again  in  the 
11th  chapter  of  Daniel. 

And  belide  thefe  four  general  overturnings  of  the  world,  the 
world  was  kept  in  a  conftant  tumult  between  whiles  ;  And  in- 
deed the  world  was  as  it  were  in  a  continual  convulfion  through 
this  whole  period  until  Chrifl  came.  Before  this  period,  the 
face  of  the  earth  was  comparatively  in  quietnefs  :  Though  there 
were  many  great  wars  among  the  nations^  yet  we  read  of  no 
fuch  mighty  and  univerfal  convulfions  and  overturnings  as  there 
were  in  this  period.  The  nations  of  the  world,  moft  of  them, 
had  long  remained  on  their  lees  as  it  were,  without  being  emp- 
tied from  vefiTel  to  vefifel,  as  is  faid  of  Moab,  J6r,  xlviii.  11,  Now 
thefe  great  overturnings  were  becaufe  the  time  of  the  great  Mefli- 
ah  drew  nigh.  That  they  were  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrifl's 
coming,  is  evident  by  fcripture,  particularly  by  Ezek.  xxi.  27, 
"  I  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn  it,  and  it  fliall  be  no  more, 
until  he  come  whofe  right  it  is,,  and  I  will  give  it  him."  The 
prophet,  by  repeating  the  word  overturn  three  times,  has  refpeft 
to  three  overturnings,  as  in  the  Revelation,  viii.  13.  the  rep- 
etition of  the  word  wo  three  times,  fignifies  three  diftinft  woes; 
as  appears  by  what  follows,  ix.  12.  "  One  wo  is  paft  ;"  and  xi. 
14.  "  The  fecond  wo  is  pad,  and  behold  the  third  wo  cometh 
quickly." 

It  muft  be  noted,  that  the  Prophet  Ezekiel  prophefied  in  the 
time  of  the  Babylonifh  captivity  ;  and  therefore  there  were 
three  great  and  general  overturnings  of  the  world  to  come  after 
this  prophecy,  before  Chrift  came  ;  the  firfl  by  the  Perlians, 
the  fecond  by  the  Grecians,  the  third  by  the  Romans  ;  and  then 
after  that,  Chrift,  whofe  right  it  was  to  take  the  diadem,  and 
reign,  fhould  come.  Here  thefe  great  overturnings  are  evident- 
ly fpoken  of  as  preparatory  to  the  coming  and  kingdom  of 
Chrift*  But  to  underftand  the  words  aright,  we  muft  note  the 
particular  expreftion,  "  I  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn  iV* 
i.  e.  the  diadem  and  crown  of  Ifrael,  or  the  fupreme  temporal 
dominion  over  God's  vifiblc  people,     This  God  faid  (hould  be 

no 


126  A    H  I  S  T  G  R  Y    OF  THE  Pewod  I. 

Jio  more,  i.  e,  the  crown  fliould  be  taken  ofF,  and  the  diadem 
removed,  as  it  is  faid  in  the  foregoing  vcrfe.  The  fupremc 
power  over  Ifrael  fhould  be  no  more  in  the  royal  line  of  David, 
to  which  it  properly  belonged,  but  (hould  be  removed  away, 
and  given  to  others,  and  overturned  from  one  to  another :  Firft: 
the  fupreme  power  over  Ifrael  fliould  be  in  the  hands  of  the 
Perfians;  and  then  it  fliould  be  overturned  again  ;  arid  then  it 
fhould  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Grecians;  and  then  it  fliould  be 
overturned  again,  and  come  into  the  hands  of  the  Romans,  and 
fliould' be  no  more  in  the  line  of  David,  until  that  very  perfon 
fhould  come,  that  was  the  fon  of  David,  whofe  proper  right  it 
was,  and  then  God  would  give  it  to  him. 

That  thofe  great  fliakings  and  revolutions  of  the  nations  of 
the  world,  were  all  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's  coming, 
and  fetting  up  his  kingdom  in  the  world,  is  further  mariifell  by 
Haggai  ii.  6,  7.  "  {"or  thus  faith  the  Lord  of  hofls.  Yet  once,  it 
is  a  little  while,  and  I  will  fliake  the  heavens,  and  the  earth, 
and  the  fea,  and  the  dry  land  :  And  I  will  fliake  all  nations, 
and  the  defire  of  all  nations  fliall  come,  and  I  will  fill  this  houfc 
with  glory,  faith  the  Lord  of  hofts."  And  again,  verfe  21,  22, 
and  23*  It  is  evident  by  this,  that  thefe  great  revolutions  and 
fliakings  of  the  nations,  whereby  the  thrones  of  kingdoms  and 
ajmies  were  overthrown,  and  every  one  came  down  by  the 
fword  of  his  brother,  were  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  coming 
of  him  who  is  the  defire  of  all  nations. 

The  great  changes  and  troubles  that  have  fometimes  been  in 
the  vifible  church  of  Chrlft,  are,  in  Rev.  xii.  2.  compared  to  the 
church's  being  in  travail  to  bring  forth  Chrifl ;  fo  thefe  great 
troubles  and  mighty  revolutions  that  were  in  the  world  before 
Chrifl:  was  born,  were,  as  it  were,  the  world's  being  in  travail 
to  bring  forth  the  Son  of  God.  The  apofl:le,  in  the  8th  of 
Romans,  reprefents  the  whole  creation  as  groaning  arid  travail- 
ing in  pain  together  until  now,  to  bring  forth  the  liberty  and 
manifeftation  of  the  children  of  God.  So  the  world  aS  it  were 
travailed  in  pain,  and  was  in  continual  convullions,  for  feveral 
hundred  years  together,  to  bring  forth  the  firft:  born  child,  and 
the  only  bcgotton  Son  of  God,  And  thofe  mighty  revolutions 
were  as  fo  many  pangs  and  throes  in  order  to  it.  The  World 
being  fo  long  a  time  kept  in  a  ftate  of  war  and  bloodfiiedj  pre- 
pared the  wajr  for   the  coming   of  the  Prince  of  Pea:ce,  as  it 

"flYOwed 


Part  VI.        WORK    of   REDEMPTION,         127 

fhowed   the  great   need  the  world  flood  in  of  fuch  a  prince,  to 
deliver  the  world  from  its  miferies. 

It  pleafed  God  to  order  it  in  his  providence,  that  earthly  pow* 
cr  and  dominion   fhould  be  raifcd  to  its  greateft  height,  and  ap- 
pear  in  its  utmoft  glory,  in   thofe  four  great  monarchies  that 
lucceeded  one  another,  and  that  every  one  (hould  be  greater  and 
more  glorious  than  the  preceding,  before  he   fet  up  the  king- 
dom of  his  Son.     By  this  it  appeared  how  much   more  glorious 
his  fpiritual  kingdom  was  than  the  mod  glorious  temporal  king- 
dom.    The  ftrength  and  glory  of  Satan's  kingdom  in  thefe  four 
mighty  monarchies,  appeared  in  its   greateft  height :   For  thofc 
monarchies  were  the  monarchies  of  the  heathen   world,  and  fo 
the    ftrength   of  them  was  the    ftrength   of  Satan's   kingdom. 
God  fufFered   Satan's  kingdom  to  rife  to  fo  great  a  height  of 
power  and  magnificence  before  his  Son  came  to  overthrow  it, 
to  prepare  the  way  for  the  more  glorious   triumph  of  his  Son. 
Goliath  mufl  have  on  all  his  fplendid  armour  when  the  ftrip- 
ling  David  comes  againft  him  with  a  fling  and  a   ftone,   for  the 
greater  glory  of  David's  viftory.     God  fuffcred  one  of  thofe 
great  monarchies  to  fubdue  another,  and  ereft  itfelf  on  the  oth- 
er's ruins,  appearing  ftill  in  greater   ftrength,  and  the  lafl  to  be 
the  ftron^eft  andmightieft  of  all ;  that  fo  Chrift,  in  overthrowing 
that,  might  as  it  were  overthrow  them  all  at  once ;  as  the  ftone 
cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  is  teprefented  as  deftroy- 
ing  the  whole  image,  the    gold,  the  filver,  the  brafs,  the  iron, 
and  the  clay  ;  fo  that  all  became   as  the   chaff  of  the  fumme;" 
threfliing  floor. 

Thefe  mighty  empires  were  fuffered  thus  to  overthrow  the 
world,  and  deftroy  one  another  :  And  though  their  power  was 
fo  great,  yet  they  could  not  uphold  themfelves,  but  fell  one  af- 
ter another,  and  came  to  nothing,  even  the  laft  of  them,  that 
was  the  ftrongeft,  and  had  fwallowed  up  the  earth.  It  pleafed 
God  thus  to  ftiow  in  them  theinftability  and  vanity  of  all  earth- 
ly ppweir  and  greatnefs  ;  which  ferved  as  a  foil  to  fet  forth  the 
glory  of  the  kingdom  of  his  Son,  which  never  fhall  be  deftroyetj, 
as  appears  by  Dan.  ii.  44.  **  In  the  days  of  thefe  kings  ftiallthe 
God  of  heaven  fet  up  a  kingdom,  which  ihall  never  be  deftroy- 
ed,:  And  the  kingdom  ftiall  not  be  left  to  other  people,  but  it 
Ihall  break  in  pieces,  and  confume  all  thefe  kingdoms,  and  it 
fhall  ftand  for  ever.'*  So  greatly  docs  this  kingdom  differ  from 
all  thofe  kingdoms :  They  vanif]i  away,  and   are  left  to  other 

people ; 


128  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    Tilt  Period  L 

people  ;  but  this  {hall  not  be  left  to  other  people,  but  fhall  ftand 
for  ever.  God  fuffered  the  devil  to  do  his  utmoft,  and  to  eflab- 
lifh  his  intereft,  by  fetting  up  tlie  grcateft,  ftrongeft,  and  mod 
glorious  kingdoms  in  the  world  that  he  could,  before  the  def- 
pifed  Jefus  overthrew  him  and  his  empire.  Chrill  came  into 
the  world  to  bring  down  the  high  things  of  Satan's  kingdom, 
that  the  hand  of  the  Lord  might  be  on  every  one  that  is  proud 
and  lofty,  and  every  high  tower,  and  every  lofty  mountain ;  as 
the  Prophet  Ifaiah  fays,  chap,  ii,  i  2.  &c.  And  therefore  thefe 
things  were  fuffered  to  rife  very  high,  that  Chrifl  might  appear 
fo  much  the  more  glorious  in  being  above  them. 

Thus  wonderfully  did  the  great  and  wife  Governour  of  the 
world  prepare  the  way  for  the  erefting  of  the  glorious  kingdom 
of  his  beloved  Son  Jefus.  * 

3.  Another  thing  for  which  this  lafl:  period  or   fpace  of  time 
before  Chrift  was  particularly  remarkable, .  was  the  wonderful 
prefervationof  the  church  through  all  thofe  overturnings.     The 
prefervation  of  the  church  was  on  fome  accounts  more  remark- 
able through  this  period,  than  through  any  of  the  foregoing. 
It  was  very  wonderful   that  the   church,   which  in  this  period 
was  fo  weak,  and  in   fo  low  a  ftate,   and  moflly  fubjeft  to  the 
dominion  of  heathen  monarchies,  fhould  be  preferved  for  five 
or  fix  hundred  years  together,   while  the  world  was  fo  often 
overturned,  and  the  earth  was  rent  in  pieces,  and  made  fo  often 
empty  and  wafte,  and  the  inhabitants  of  it  came  down  fo  often 
every  one  by  the  fword  of  his  brother.     I  fay  it  was  wonderful 
that  the  church  in    its  weak  and  low  ftate,  being  but  a  little 
handful  of  men,  fhould  be  preferved  in  all  thefe  great  convui- 
fions ;  efpecially  confidering  that  the  land  of  Judea,   the  chief 
place  of  the  church's  refidence,  lay  in  the   midft  of  them,  as  it 
were  in  the  middle  between  the  contending  parties,  and  was 
very  much   the   feat  of  war  amongft  them,  and  was  often  over- 
run and  fubdued,  and  fometimes  ir^  the  hands  of  one  people,  and 
fometimes  another,   and  very  much  the  obje£l*  of  the  envy  and 
hatred  of  all  heathen  nations,  and  often  almofb  ruined  by  them, 
often  great  multitudes  of  its  inhabitants  being  flain,  and  the  land 
in  a  great  meafure  depopulated ;  and  thofe  who   had  them  in 
their  power,  often  intended  the  utter  deftruftion  of  the  whole 
nation.     Yet  they  were  upheld ;  they  were  preferved  in  their 
captivity  in  Babylon,  and  they  were  upheld  again   under  all 
the  dangers  they  pafTcd  through,  under  the  kings  of  Perfia,  and 

the 


Part  VI.       WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         129 

the  much  greater  dangers  they  were  liable  to  under  the  empire 
of  the  Greeks,  and  afterwards  when  the  world  was  trodden 
down  by  the  Romans. 

And  their  prefervation  through  this  period  was  alfo  diftin- 
guifhingly  remarkable,  in  that  we  never  read  of  the  church's 
fuffering  perfecution  in  any  former  period  in  any  meafure  to 
fuch  a  degree  as  they  did  in  this,  under  Antiochus  Epiphanes, 
of  which  more  afterwards.  This  wonderful  prefervation  of  the 
church  through  all  thefe  overturnings  of  the  world,  gives  light 
and  confirmation  to  what  we  read  in  the  beginning  of  the  46th 
Pfalm  :  "  God  is  our  refuge  and  ftrength,  a  very  prefent  help 
in  trouble.  Therefore  will  not  we  fear,  though  the  earth  be 
removed,  and  though  the  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midft 
of  the  fea  ;  though  the  waters  thereof  roar,  and  be  troubled ; 
though  the  mountains  fhake  with  the  fwelling  thereof.'* 

Thus  I  have  taken  notice  of  fome  general  things  wherein 
this  laft  period  of  the  Old  Teftament  times  was  diftinguiflied. 
I  coriie  now  to  confider  how  the  work  of  redemption  was  car- 
ried on  in  particulars. — And, 

I.  The  firfl  thing  that  here  offers  is  the  captivity  of  the  Jews 
into  Babylon.  This  was  a  great  difpenfation  of  Providence, 
and  fuch  as  never  was  before.  The  children  of  Ifrael  in  the 
time  of  the  judg«s,  had  often  been  brought  under  their  enemies  ; 
and  many  particular  perfons  were  carried  captive  at  other  times. 
But  never  had  there  been  any  fuch  thing  as  deftroying  the 
whole  land,  the  fanftuary,  and  the  city  of  Jerufalem,  and  all  the 
cities  and  villages  of  the  land,  and  carrying  the  whole  body  of 
the  people  out  of  their  own  land  into  a  country  many  hundred 
milqs  diftant,  and  leaving  the  land  of  Canaan  empty  of  God's 
vifible  people.  The  ark  had  once  forfaken  the  tabernacle  of 
Shiloh,  and  was  carried  captiv^  into  the  land  of  the  Phili (lines : 
But  never  had  there  been  any  fuch  thing  as  the  burning  the 
fanftuary,  and  utterly  deflroying  the  ark,  and  carrying  away  all 
the  facred  veffels  and  utenfils.  and  breaking  up  all  their  ftated 
worfliip  in  the  land,  and  the  land's  lying  wafle  and  empty  for 
fo  many  years  together.  How  lively  are  thofe  things  let  forth 
in  the  Lamentations  of  Jeremiah  ! 

The  work  of  redemption  was  promoted  by  this  remarkable 
difpenfation  in  thefe  following  ways, 

1,  It  finally  cured  that  nation  of  their  itch  after  idolatry. 
The  Prophet  Ifaiah,  fpeaking  of  the  felting  up  of  the  kingdom 

Q  of 


i^o  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    Of  the  Pcwod  I, 

of  Chrift.  chap.  ii.  18.  fpeaksof  the  abolifhing  idolatry  as  one 
thing  that  fliould  be  done  to  this  end :  "  And  the  idols  he  fivall 
utterly  abolifh."  When  the  time  was  drawing  near,  that  God 
would  aboliih  heathen  idolatry,  through  the  greater  part  of  the 
known  world,  as  he  did  by  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel  after 
Chrifl  came,  it  pleafed  him  fail  to  abolifh  heathenifm  among 
his  own  people  ;  and  he  did  it  now  by  their  captivity  into  Bab- 
ylon ;  a  prefage  of  that  abolifliing  of  idols,  that  God  was  about 
«;;?*  to  bring  to  pafs  by  Chrift  through  fo  great  a  part   of  the  hea- 

then world. 

This  nation  that  was  addiftcd  to  idolatry  before  for  fo  many 
ages,  and  that  nothing  would  cure  them  of,  not  all  the  reproofs, 
and  warnings,  and  corredions,  that  they  had,  and  all  the  judg- 
ments God  inflifted  on  them  for  it ;  yet  now  were  finally  cur- 
ed :  So  that  however  fome  mi{»ht  fall  into  this  fin  afterwards, 
as  they  did  about  the  time  of  Antiochiis's  perfecutioii,  yet  the 
nation,  as  a  nation,  never  fhewed  any  hankering  after  this  fm 
any  more.  This  was  a  remarkable  and  wonderful  change  in 
that  people,  and  what  direftly  promoted  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion, as  it  was  a  great  advancement  of  the  intereft  of  religion. 

2.  It  was  one  thing  that  prepared  the  way  for  Chrift's  com- 
ing, and  fetting  up  the  glorious  difpenfation  of  the  gofpel,  as  it 
took  away  many  of  thofe  things  wherein  confifted  the  glory  of 
the  Jewifh  difpenfation.  In  order  to  ii>troduce  the  glorious 
difpenfation  of  the  gofpel,  the  external  glory  of  the  Jewifli 
church  muft  be  diminifhed,  as  we  obferved  before.  This  the 
Babylonifh  captivity  did  many  ways  ;  it  brought  the  people 
'        very  low. 

Firft,  it  removed  the  temporal  diadem  of  the  houfe  of  David 
away  from  them,  i.  e.  the  fupreme  and  independent  government 
of  themfelves.  It  took  away  the  crown  and  diadem  from  the 
nation.  The  time  now  approaching  when  Chrift,  the  great 
and  everlafting  king  of  his  church,  was  to  reign,  it  was  time  for 
the  typical  kings  to  withdraw.  As  God  faid  by  Ezekiel,  ch» 
xxi,  26.  "  He  removed  the  crown  and  diadem,  that  it  might  be 
no  more,  until  he  fhould  come,  whofe  right  it  was."  The  Jews 
henceforward  were  always  dependent  on  the  governing  power 
of  other  nations,  until  Chrift  came,  for  near  fix  hundred  years, 
excepting  about  ninety  years,  during  which  fpace  they  main- 
tained a  fort  of  independence,  by  continual  wars  under  the  do- 
sninion  of  the  Maccabees  and  their  pofterity. 

Again, 


Part  VI.       WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.        131 

Again,  by  the  captivity,  the  glory  and  magnificence  of  the 
temple  was  taken  away,  and  the  temple  tliat  was  built  after- 
wards, was  nothing  in  comparifon  with  it.  Thus  it  was  meet, 
that  when  the  time  drew  nigh  that  the  glorious  antitype  of  the 
temple  fhould  appear,  that  the  typical  temple  fhould  have  its 
glory  withdrawn. 

Again,  another  thing  that  they  lofl  by  the  captivity,  was  the 
two  tables  of  the  teftimony  delivered  to  Mofes,  written  with  the 
finger  of  God ;  the  tw©  tables  on  which  God  wath  his  own  •* 

finger  wrote  the  ten  commandments  on  Mount  Sinai.  Thefe 
feem  to  have  been  preferved  in  the  ark  until  the  captivity. 
Thcfe  were  in  the  ark  when  Solomon  placed  the  ark  in  the 
temple,  1  Kings  viii.  9.  There  was  nothing  in  the  ark,  fave 
the  two  tables  of  ftone,  which  Mofes  put  there  at  Horeb.  And 
we  have  no  reafon  to  fuppofe  any  other,  but  that  they  remained 
there  as  long  as  that  temple  flood.  But  the  Jews  fpeak  of  thef© 
as  finally  loft  at  that  time ;  though  the  fame  commandments 
were  preferved  in  the  book  of  the  lav/,  Thefe  tables  alfo  were 
withdrawn  on  the  approach  of  their  antitype. 

Again,  another  thing  that  was  loft  that  the  Jews  had  before, 
was  the  Urim  and  Thummim.  This  is  evident  by  Ezra  ii.  63. 
*'  And  the  Tiiftiatha  faid  unto  them,  that  they  fhould  not  eat  of 
the  moft  holy  things,  until  there  fhould  ftand  up  a  prieft  with 
Urim  and  Thummim."  And  we  have  no  account  that  this  was 
ever  reftored  ;  but  the  ancient  writings  of  the  Jews  fay  the  con- 
trary. What  this  Urim  and  Thummim  was,  I  fhall  not  now  in- 
quire ;  but  only  obferve,  that  it  was  fomething  by  which  the 
high  prieft  inquired  of  God,  and  received  immediate  anfwers 
from  him,  or  by  which  God  gave  forth  immediate  oracles  on 
particular  occafions.  This  was  now  withdrawn,  the  time  ap? 
proaching  when  Chrift,  the  antitype  of  the  Urim  and  Thum- 
mim, the  great  word  and  oracle  of  God,  was  to  come. 

Another  thing  that  the  ancient  Jews  fay  was  wanting  in  the 
fccond  temple,  was  the  Shechinah,  or  cloud  of  glory  over  the 
mercy  feat.  This  was  promifed  to  be  in  the  tabernacle  :  Lev. 
xvi.  2. ««  For  I  will  appear  in  the  cloud  upon  the  mercy  feat," 
And  we  read  elfewhere  of  the  cloud  of  glory  defcending  into 
the  tabernacle,  Exod.  xl.  35.  and  fo  we  do  likewife  with  refpeft 
to  Solomon's  temple.  But  we  have  no  account  that  this  cloud 
of  glory  was  in  the  fecond  temple.  And  the  ancient  accounts 
of  the  Jews  fay,  that  there  was  no  fuch  thing  in  the  fecond  teni* 

ple» 


132  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  I. 

pie.  This  was  needlefs  in  the  fecond  temple,  confiderlng  that 
God  had  promifed  that  he  would  fill  this  temple  with  glory 
another  way,  viz.  by  Chrijft's  coming  into  it  ;  which  was  after- 
wards fulfilled.  See  Haggai  ii.  7.  "  I  will  flT,ake  all  nations, 
and  the  defire  of  all  nations  fhall  come,  and  I  will  fill  this  houfe 
with  glory,  faith  the  Lord  of  hofts." 

Another  thing,  that  the  Jews   in  their  ancient  writings  men- 
tion as  being  now  withdrawn,  was  the  fire  from  heaven  on  the 
altar.     When  Mofes  built  the  tabernacle  and  altar  in  the  wil- 
dernefs,    and  the  firfi;  facrifices  were  offered   on  it,    fire  came 
down  from  heaven,  and  confumed  the  burnt  oficring,  as  in  Le- 
vit.  ix.  24,  and  fo  again,  when  Solomon  built  the  temple,   and 
offered   the  firfl   facrifices,   as   you  may  fee  in  2  Chron.  vii.  t. 
And  this  fire  was  never  to  go  out,  but  with  the  greatefh  care  to 
be    kept   alive,  as    God   commanded,   Levit,  vi.  13.  ''  The   fire 
fhall   ever  be  burning  upon    the   altar  :  It  fhall  never  go  out." 
And  there  is  no  reafon  to  fuppofe   the   fire  in  Solomon's  time 
ever  went   out  until   the  temple  was  deftroyed  by  the  Babylo- 
nians.    But  then  it  was  extinguifhed,  and  never   was   reftored. 
We  have  no  account  of  its  being  given  on  the  building  of  the 
fecond  temple,  as  we  have  at  the  building  of  the  tabernacle  and 
firfl  temple.     But  the  Jews,   after  their  return,   were  forced  to 
make  ufe  of   their  common   fire  inftead  of  it,   according  to  the 
ancient  tradition  ©f  the  Jews.     Thus  the  lights  of  the  Old  Tef- 
tament  go   out  on   the  apprc^ach  of  the  glorious  Son  of   righte- 
Qufnefs, 

3,  The  captivity  into  Babylon  was  the  occafion  of  another  thing 
which  did  afterwards  much  promote  the  fetting  up  of  Chrifl's 
kingdom  in  the  world,  and  that  was  the  difperfion  of  the  Jews 
through  the  greater  part  of  the  known  world,  before  the  coming 
of  Chrifl.  For  the  whole  nation  being  carried  away  far  out  of 
their  own  land,  and  'continuing  in  a  ftate  of  captivity  for  fo 
long  a  time,  they  got  them  poffeffions,  and  built  them  houfes, 
and  fettled  themfelves  in  the  land  of  their  captivity,  agreeable 
to  the  direftion  that  Jeremiah  gave  them,  in  the  letter  he  wrote 
to  them  in  the  29th  chapter  of  Jeremiah.  And  therefore,  when 
Cyrus  gave  them  liberty  to  return  to  the  land  where  they  had 
formerly  dwelt,  many  of  them  never  returned  ;  they  were  not 
willing  to  leave  their  fettlements  and  poffeffions  there,  to  go  in- 
to  a  defolate  country,  many  hundred  miles  diftant,  which  none 
but  the  old  men  among  them  had  ever  feen  ;  and  therefore  they 

were 


Part  VI.        WORK    OF    REDE  M^?  T  I  O  N.         133  # 


were  but  few,  but  a  fmall  mimbcr,  that  returned,   as  we  fee  in 
the  accounts   we  have  in^he  books  of  Ezra   and  Nehe'miah. 


jpi 

i^h< 

Great  numbers  tarried  behind,  though  they  fHU  retained  the 
fame  religion  with  thofe  that  returned,  fo  far  as  it  could  be  prac- 
tiied  in  a  foreign  land.  Thofe  meflengers  that  we  read  of  in 
the  7th  chapter  of  Zechariah,  that  came  to  inquire  of  the  priells 
and  prophets  in  Jerufalem,  Sherezer  and  Regemmelech,  are  fup- 
pofed  to  be  meffengers  fent  from  the  Jews  that  remained  ftill  in 
Babylon. 

Thofe  Jews  that  remained  Hill  in  that  country  were  foon,  by 
the  great  changes  that  happened  ir  the  world,  difperfed  thence 
into  all  the  adjacent  countries.  And  hence  we  find,  that  in 
E  fiber's  time,  which  was  after  the  return  from  tlie  captivity, 
the  Jews  were  a  people  that  were  difperfed  throughout  all  parts 
of  the  vafl  Perfian  empire,  that  extended  from  India  to  Ethio- 
pia ;  as  you  may  fee,  Eilh.  iii.  8.  "  And  Haman  laid  unto  King 
Ahafuerus,  There  is  a  certain  people  fcattered  abroad,  and  dif- 
perfed among  the  people  in  all  the  provinces  of  thy  kingdom,'* 
&c.  And  fo  they  continued  difperfed  until  Chriit  came,  and 
until  the  apoftles  went  forth  to  preach  the  gofpel.  But  yet 
thefe  difperfed  Jews  retained  their  religion  in  this  difperfion. 
Their  captivity,  as  I  faid  before,  thoroughly  cured  them  of  their 
idolatry  ;  and  it  was  their  manner,  for  as  many  of  them  as  could 
from  time  to  time,  to  go  up  to  the  land  of  Judea  to  Jerufalem 
at  their  great  feafts.  Hence  we  read  in  the  2d  chapter  of  A£ls, 
that  at  the  time  of  the  great  feaft  of  Penticoft,  there  were  Jews 
abiding  at  Jerufalem  out  of  every  nation  under  heaven. — Thefe 
were  Jews  come  up  from  all  countries  where  they  were  difperf- 
ed, to  worfhip  at  that  feall.  And  hence  we  find,  in  the  hiftory 
of  the  Afts  of  the  Apoflles,  that  wherever  the  apoflles  went 
preaching  through  the  world,  they  found  Jews.  They  came  to 
fuch  a  city,  and  to  fuch  a  city,  and  went  into  the  fynagogue  of 
the  Jews, 

Antiochus  the  Great,  about  two  hundred  years  before  Chrifi, 
on  a  certain  occafion,  tranfplanted  two  thoufand  families  of 
Jews  from  the  country  about  Babylon  into  Afia  the  Lefs  ;  and 
fo  they  and  their  pofterity,  many  of  them,  fettled  in  Pontus, 
Galatia,  Phrygia,  Pamphilia,  and  in  Ephefus  ;  and  from  thence 
fettled  in  Athens,  and  Corinth,  and  Rome.  Whence  came  thofe 
fynagogues  in  thofe  places  that  the  Apoftle  Paul  preached  in. 

Now, 


^34 


A    HISTORY    OP  THs  Period  L 


Now,  this  difpcrfion  of  the  Jew^th  rough  the  world  before 
Chrift  came,  did  many  ways  prcp^  the  way  for  his  coming, 
and  fetting  up  his  kingdom  in  the  world. 

One  was,  that  this  was  a  means  of  raifing  a  general  expe£la- 
tion  of  the  Mefiiah  through  the  world  about  the  time  that  he 
aftually  came.  For  the  Jews,  wherever  they  were  difperfed, 
carried  the  holy  fcriptures  with  them,  and  fo  the  prophecies  of 
the  Mefliah  ;  and  being  converfant  with  the  nations  among 
whom  they  lived,  they,  by  that  means,  became  acquainted  with 
thefe  prophecies,  and  with  the  expeftations  of  the  Jews  of  their 
glorious  Mefiiah  ;  and  by  this  means,  the  birth  of  fuch  a  glo- 
rious perfon  in  Judea  about  that  time  began  to  be  the  general 
cxpeftation  of  the  nations  of  the  world,  as  appears  by  the  writ- 
ings of  the  learned  men  of  the  heathen  that  lived  about  that 
time,  which  are  flill  extant  ;  particularly  Virgil,  the  famous 
poet  that  lived  in  Italy  a  little  before  Chrift  was  born,  has  a 
poem  about  the  expectation  of  a  great  prince  that  was  to  be  born, 
and  the  happy  times  of  righteoufnefs  and  peace  that  he  was  to 
introduce  ;  fome  of  it  very  much  in  the  language  of  the  proph- 
et Ifaiah. 

Another  way  that  this  difperfed  ftate  of  the  Jews  prepared 
the  way  for  Chrifl  was,  that  it  fhowed  the  neceflity  of  abolifti- 
ing  the  Jewifh  difpenfation,  and  introducing  a  new  difpenfa- 
tion  of  the  covenant  of  grace.  It  fhowed  the  necefiity  of  aboU 
ifhing  the  ceremonial  law,  and  the  old  Jewifli  worfliip  ;  For, 
by  this  means,  the  obfervance  of  that  ceremonial  law  became 
imprafbicable  even  by  the  Jews  themfelves  :  For  the  ceremonial 
Jaw  was  adapted  to  the  ftate  of  a  people  dwelling  together  in 
the  fame  land,  where  was  the  city  that  God  had  chofen  ;  where 
was  the  temple,  the  only  place  where  they  might  offer  facrifices  ; 
and  where  it  was  lawful  for  their  priefts  and  Levites  to  officiate, 
where  they  were  to  bring  their  firft  fruits,  and  where  were  their 
cities  of  refuge  and  the  like.  But  the  Jews,  by  this  difperfion, 
lived,  many  of  them,  in  other  lands,  more  than  a  thoufand 
miles  diftant,  when  Chrift  came  ;  which  made  the  obfervation 
of  their  laws  of  facrifices,  and  the  like,  impra6licable.  And 
though  their  forefathers  might  be  to  blame  in  not  going  up  to 
the  land  of  Judea  when  they  were  permitted  by  Cyrus,  yet  the 
cafe  was  now,  as  to  many  of  them  at  leaft,  become  impraflica- 
blc  ;  which  fhowed  the  neceflity  of  introducing  a  new  difpen- 
fation^ that  fhould  be  fitted,  not  only  to  one  particular  land, 

but 


Part  VI.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         135 

but  to  the  general  circumftances  and  ufe  of  all  nations  pf  the 
world. 

Again,    another  way  that  this  difperfion  of  the  Jews  through 
the  world  prepared  the  way  for  the  fetting  up  of   the  kingdom 
of  Chrift  in  the  world,   was,   that  it  contributed  to  the   making 
the  fafts  concerning  Jefus  Chrift  publickly  known  through  the 
world.     For,  as  I  obferved  before,   the  Jews  that  lived  in  other 
countries,   ufed  frequently  to  go  up  to  Jerufalem  at  their  three 
great  feafts,   which  were   from   year  to   year  ;  and  fo,   by   this 
means,  they  could  not  but  become  acquainted  with   the  news  of 
the   wonderful   things  that  Chrift  did  in   that  land.     We   find 
that  they  were  prefent  at,  and  took   great  notice  of,   that   great 
miracle  of  raifing  Lazarus,  which  excited  the  curiofity  of  thofe 
foreign  Jews  that  came  up  to  the  feaft  of  the  Paffover  to  fee  Je- 
fus ;  as  you  may  fee  in  John  xii.   19,  20,  21.     Thefe   Greeks 
were  foreign  Jews  and  profelytes,  as  is  evident  by  their  coming 
to  worfhip  at  the  feaft  of  the  Paffover.     The  Jews  that  lived 
abroad  among  the  Greeks,  and  fpoke  their  language,  were  called 
Greeks,    or  Hdlenijis  ;  So  they   are   called  Grecians,   A£ls  vi.    1, 
Thefe  Grecians  here  fpokenof  were  not  Gentile  Chriftians  ;  for 
this  was  before  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles. 

By  the  fame  means,  the  Jews  that  went  up  from  other  coun- 
tries became  acquainted  with  Chrift's  crucifixion.  Thus  the 
difciples,  going  to  Emmaus,  fay  to  Chrift,  when  they  did  not 
know  him,  Luke  xxiv,  18,  "  ^  Art  thou  only  a  ftranger  in  Jeru- 
falem, and  haft  not  known  the  things  which  have  come  to  pals 
there  in  thefe  days  ?"  plainly  intimating,  that  the  things  con- 
cerning Jefus  were  fo  publickly  known  to  all  men,  that  it  was 
wonderful  to  find  any  man  unacquainted  with  them.  And  fo 
afterwards  they  became  acquainted  with  the  news  of  his  refur- 
le^ion  ;  and  when  they  went  home  again  into  their  own  coun- 
tries, they  carried  the  news  with  them,  and  fo  made  thefe  fa£ls 
publick  through  the  world,  as  they  had  made  the  prophec'^s  of 
them  publick  before. 

After  this,  thofe  foreign  Jews  that  came  to  Jerufalem,  took 
great  notice  of  the  pouring  out  of  the  fpirit  at  Pentecoit,  and 
the  wonderful  efFe6b  of  it  ;  and  many  of  them  were  converted 
by  it,  viz.  Parthians,  Medes,  Elamites,  and  the  dwellers  in  Mef- 
opotamia,  and  in  Egypt,  and  the  parts  of  Libya  about  Cyrene, 
and  the  ftrangers  of  Rome,  Jews  and  profelytes,  Cretes  and  A- 
rabians.     And  fo  they  did  not  only  carry  back  the  news  of  the 

fads 


1.36  A    HISTORY    OK    iiiE  Period  I. 

faQ;s  of  Chriflianity,  but  Chriftianity  itfclf,  into  their  own 
countries  with  thtm  ;  which  contributed  much  to  the  Iprcading 
of  it  through  the  world. 

Again,  another  way  that  the  difperlion  of  the  Jews  contribut- 
ed to  the  fetting  up  of  the  gofpel  kingdom  in  the  world  was, 
that  it  opened  a  door  for  the  introduftion  of  the  apoftles  in  all 
places  where  they  came  to  preach  the  gofpel.  For  almod  in 
all  places  where  they  came  to  preach  the  gofpel,  they  found 
Jews  and  fynagogues  of  the  Jews,  where  the  holy  fcriptures  were 
wont  to  be  read,  and  the  true  God  worfhipped;  which  was  a 
great  advantage  to  the  apoftles  in  their  fpreading  the  gofpel 
through  the  world.  For  their  way  was,  into  whatever  city  they 
came,  firfl  to  go  into  the  fynagogue  of  the  Jews,  (they  being 
people  of  the  fame  nation,)  and  there  to  preach  the  gofpel  unto 
them.  And  hereby  their  coming,  and  their  new  dofclrine,  was 
taken  notice  of  by  their  Gentile  neighbours,  whofe  curiofity 
excited  them  to  hear  what  they  had  to  fay  ;  which  became  a 
fair  occafion  to  the  apoftles  to  preach  the  gofpel  to  them.  It 
appears  that  it  was  thus,  by  the  account  we  have  of  things  in 
the  A£ls  of  the  Apoftles.  And  thefe  Gentiles  having  been  be- 
fore, many  of  them,  prepared  in  fome  meafure,  by  the  knowl- 
edge they  had  of  thfe  Jews'  religion,  and  of  their  worftiip  of  one 
God,  and  of  their  prophecies,  and  expeftation  of  a  Mefiiah  ; 
which  knowledge  they  derived  from  the  Jews,  who  had  long 
been  their  neighbours  ;  this  opened  the  door  for  the  gofpel  to 
have  accefs  to  them.  And  the  work  of  the  apoftles  with  them 
was  doubtlefs  much  eafter  than  if  they  never  had  heard  any 
thing  before  of  any  expetlation  of  fuch  a  perfon  as  the  apoftles 
preached,  or  any  thing  about  the  worfhip  of  one  only  true  God. 
So  many  ways  did  the  Babylonifti  captivity  greatly  prepare 
the  way  for  Ch rift's  coming, 

II.  The  next  particular  that  I  would  take  notice  of  is,  the  ad- 
dition made  to  the  canon  of  fcripture  in  the  time  of  the  captiv- 
ity, in  thofe  two  remarkable  portions  of  fcripture,  the  prophe- 
cies of  Ezekiel  and  Daniel.  Chrift  appeared  to  each  of  thefe 
prophets  in  the  form  of  that  nature  which  he  was  afterwards  to 
take  upon  him.  The  prophet  Ezekiel  gives  an  account  of  his 
thus  appearing  to  him  repeatedly,  as  Ezdc.  i.  26.  "  And  above 
the  firmament  that  was  over  their  heads,  was  the  likenefs  of  a 
throne,  as  the  appearance  of  a  fapphire  ftone,  and  upon  the  like- 
nefs of  the  throne  was  the  likenefs  as  the  appearance  of  a  man 

above 


Part  VI.      W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  i^f 

above  upon  it;"  and  fo  chap,  viii,  i,  2.  So  Chrlft  appeared 
to  the  prophet  Daniel:  Dan.  viii.  15,  i6.  "  There  ftood  before 
me  as  the  appearance  of  a  man.  And  I  heard  a  man's  voice 
between  the  banks  of  Ulai,  which  called,  and  faid,  Gabriel^ 
make  this  man  to  underftand  the  vifion."  There  are  fciveral 
things  that  make  it  evident,  that  this  was  Chrifl,  that  I  cannot 
now  iland  to  mention  particularly.  So  Chrifl  appeared  again 
as  a  man  to  this  prophet,  chap.  x.  5,  6.  *'  Then  1  lift  up  mine 
eyes  and  looked,  and  behold,  a  certain  man  clothed  in  linen^ 
whofe  loins  were  girded  with  fine  gold  of  Uphaz :  His  body 
alfo  was  like  the  beryl,  and  his  face  as  the  appearance  of  light- 
ning, and  his  eyes  as  lamps  of  fire,  and  his  arms  and  his  feet 
like  in  colour  to  polifhed  brafs,  and  the  voice  of  his  words  like 
the  voice  of  a  multitude."  Comparing  this  vifion  with  that  o£ 
the  Apoftle  John  in  the  ifl  chapter, of  Revelation,  makes  it 
manifeft  that  it  was  Chrifl.  And  the  prophet  Daniel,  in  the 
hiflorical  part  of  his  book,  gives  an  account  ®f  a  very  remark- 
able appearance  of  Chrifl  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  furnace,  with 
Shadrach,  Mefhach,  and  Abednego.  We  have  the  account  of 
it  in  the  3d  chapter-  In  the  25th  verfe,  Chrifl  is  faid  to  be  like 
the  Son  of  God;  and  it  is  manifefl  that  he  appeared  in  the 
form  of  man  ;  "  Lo,  I  fee  four  men  loole— and  the  form  of  the 
fourth  is  like  the  Son  of  God." 

Chrifl  did  not  only  here  appear  in  the  form  of  the  human 
nature,  but  he  appeared  in  a  furnace,  faving  thofe  perfons  who 
believed  on  him  from  that  furnace ;  by  which  is  reprefented  to 
us,  how  Chrifl,  by  coming  himfelf  into  the  furnace  of  God's 
wrath,  faves  thofe  that  believe  in  him  from  that  furnace,  fo  that 
it  has  no  power  on  them  ;  and  the  wrath  of  God  never  reaches 
or  touches  them,  fo  much  as  to  finge  the  hair  of  their  headi 

Thefe  two  prophets,  in  many  refpe^ls,  were  more  particular 
concerning  the  coming  of  Chrifl,  and  his  glorious  golpel  king- 
dom, than  any  of  the  prophets  had  been  before.  They  both  of 
them  mention  thofe  three  great  overturnings  of  the  world  that 
ftiould  be  before  he  came.  Ezekiel  is  particular  in  feveral 
places  concerning  the  coming  of  Chrifl.  The  prophet  Daniel 
is  more  particular  in  foretelling  the  time  of  the  coming-  of 
Chrifl  than  ever  any  prophet  had  been  before,  in  the  9th  chap- 
ter of  his  prophecy ;  who  foretold,  that  it  fhould  be  feventy 
weeks,  i*  tf.  feventy  weeks  of  years,  or  feventy  times  (even 
years,  or  four  hundred  and  ninety  years,  from  the  decree  to  fe- 
R  build 


13S  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    or  the  Period  I. 

build  and  reflore  the  ft  ate  of  the  Jews,  until  the  MeflTiah  fhould 
be  crucified  ;  which  muft  be  reckoned  from  the  commifTion 
given  to  Ezra  by  Artaxcrxes,  that  we  have  an  account  of  in  the 
ytk  chapter  of  Ezra ;  whereby  the  very  particular  time  of 
Chrift's  crucifixion  was  pointed  out,  which  never  had  been  be- 
fore. 

The  prophet  Ezekiel  is  very  particular  in  the  myftlcal  de- 
fcription  of  the  gofpel  church,  in  his  account  of  his  vifion  of 
the  temple  and  city,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  prophecy.  The 
Prophet  Daniel  points  out  the  order  of  particular  events  that 
ihould  come  to  pafs  relating  to  the  Chriftian  churcli  after  Chrift 
livas  come,  as  the  rife  of  Antichrift,  and  the  continuance  of  his 
reign,  and  his  fall,  and  the  glory  that  fhould  follow. 

Thus  does  gofpel  light  ftill  increafe,  the  nearer  we  come  to 
the  time  of  Chrift's  birth. 

III.  The  next  particular  I  would  mention  is,  the  deftru6lion 
of  Babylon,  and  the  overthrow  of  the  Chaldean  empire  by  Cy- 
rus. The  deflrutlion  of  Babylon  was  in  that  night  in  which 
Belfhazzar  the  king,  and  the  city  in  general,  was  drowned  in  a 
drunken  feftival,  which  they  kept  to  their  gods,  when  Daniel 
was  called  to  read  the  hand  writing  on  the  wall,  Dan.  v.  30. 
and  it  was  brought  about  in  fuch  a  manner,  as  wonderfully  to 
fhow  the  hand  of  God,  and  remarkably  to  fulfil  his  word  by 
his  prophets,  which  I  cannot  now  {land  particularly  to  relate. 
Now  that  great  city,  which  had  long  been  an  enemy  to  the  city 
of  God,  his  Jerufalem,  was  deftroyed,  after  it  had  ftood  ever 
fince  the  firft  building  of  Babel,  which  was  about  feventeen 
hundred  years.  If  the  check  that  was  put  to  the  building  this 
city  at  its  beginning,  whereby  they  were  prevented  from  carry- 
ing of  it  to  that  extent  and  magnificence  that  they  intended  ;  I 
iay,  if  thia  promoted  the  work  of  redemption,  as  1  haVe  before 
ihown  it  did,  much  more  did  this  deflru6lion  of  it. 

It  was  a  remarkable  inftance  of  God's  vengeance  on  the  ene- 
Znies  of  his  redeemed  church  ;  for  God  brought  this  deftru6lioR 
OHi  Babylon  for  the  injuries  they  did  to  God's  children,  as  is  oft- 
en fet  forth  in  the  prophets.  It  alfo  promoted  the  work  of 
redemption,  as  thereby  God's  people,  that  were  held  captive 
by  them,  were  fet  at  liberty  to  return  to  their  own  land  to  re- 
build Jerufalem  ;  and  therefore  Cyrus,  who  did  it,  is  called 
God's  (hepherd  therein,  If,  xliv.  latter  end;  and  xlv,  i»  And 
Ihefc  arc  over  and  abov«  thofei  ways  wherein  the  fetting  up  and 

overthrowing 


Part  VI.       WORK    or    REDEMPTION.        13^ 

overthrowing  the  four  monarchies  of  the  world  did  promote  the 
work  of  redemptionj  which  have  been  before  obferved. 

IV.  What  next  followed  this  was,  the  return  of  the  Jews  to 
their   own  land,    and   rebuilding    Jerufalem   and  the    te;mple. 
Cyrus,  as  foon  as  he  had  deftroyed   the  Babylonifh  empire,  and 
had  erettcd  the  Pcrfian   empire  on  its  ruins,  made  a  decree  in 
favour  of  the  Jews,  that  they  might  return  to  tlieir  own  land, 
and  rebuild  their  city  and  temple.     This  return  of  the  Jews  out 
of  the  Babylonifh  captivity  is,   next  to  the  redemption  out  of 
Egypt,  the  moft  remarkable  of  all  the  Old  Teftament   redemp- 
tions, and  moft  infilled  on   in  fcripture,  as  a  type  of  the  great 
redemption  of  Jefus  Chrift.     It  was  under  the  hand  of  one  of 
the  legal  anceftors  of  Chrift,  viz.  Zerubbabel,  the  fon  of  Shcal- 
tiel,  whofe  Babylonifh  name  was    Shefhbazzar.     He  was  the 
governour  of  the  Jews,  and  their  leader  in  their  firft  return  out 
of  captivity  ;  and,  together  with  Joftiua  the  fon  of  Jozadek  the 
high  prieft,  had  the  chief  hand  in  rebuilding  the  temple.     This 
redemption  was  brought   about  by  the  hand  of  Zerubbabel  and 
Jofhua  the  prieft,  as  the  redemption  out  of  Egypt  was  brought 
about  by  the  hand  of  Mofes  and  Aaron, 

The  return  out  of  the  captivity  was  a  remarkable  difpenfa- 
tion  of  Providence,     It  was  remarkable,  that  the  heart  of  a 
heathen  prince,   as  Cyrus  was,  fhould  be  fo  inclined  to  favour 
fuch  a  defign  as  he  did,  not  only  in  giving  the  people  liberty  to 
return,  and  rebuild  the  city  and   temple,  but  in  giving  charge 
that  they  fhould  be  helped  with  lilver  and  gold,  and  with  goods, 
and  with  beafts,  as  we  read  in  Ezra  i.  4,     And  afterwards  God 
wonderfully  inclined  the  heart  of  Darius  to  further  the  build- 
ing of  the  houfe  of  God  with   his  own  tribute  money,  and  by 
commanding  their  bitter  enemies,  the  Samaritans,  who  had  been 
ftriving  to  hinder  them,   to  help  them  without  fail,  by  furnifh- 
ing  them  with  all  that  they  needed  in  order  to  it,  and  to  fupply 
them  day  by  day ;  making  a  decree,   that   whofocver  failed  of 
it,  timber  fhould  be  pulled  down  out  of  his  houfe,  and  he  hang- 
ed thereon,  and  his  houfe  made  a  dunghill ;  as  we  have  an  ac- 
count in  the  6th  chapter  of  Ezra.     And  after  this  God  inclined 
the  heart  of  Artaxerxcs,  another  king  of  Perfia,  to  promote  the 
work  of  prcferving  the  ftate  of  the  Jews,  by  his  ample  commif- 
fion  to  E2ra,  which  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  7th  chapter 
of  Ezra ;  helping  them  abundantly  with  filver  and  gold  of  his 
own  bounty,  and  offering  more,  as  fhould  be  needful,  out  of 

tke 


i4o  A    HISTORY    OP    the  Period  L 

the  Icing's  treafure  houfe,  and  commanding  his  treafurers  bc^ 
yond  the  river  Euphrates  to  give  more,  as  fhould  be  needed, 
upto  an  hundred  talents  of  filver,  and  an  hundred  meafures  of 
wheat,  an  hundred  baths  of  wine,  and  an  hundred  baths  of  oil, 
and  fah,  without  prefcribing  how  much  ;  and  giving  leave  to 
pilablifh  magiftrates  in  the  land  ;  and  freeing  the  priefts  of  toll, 
tribute,  and  cuftom,  ^nd  other  things,  which  render  this  decree 
^nd  commiflipn  by  Artaxerxes  the  moft  full  and  ample  in  the 
Jews'  favour  of  any  that,  at  any  time,  had  been  given  for  the 
reflcring  of  Jerufalem :  And  therefore,  in  Daniel's  prophecy, 
this  is  called  the  decree  for  refloring  and  building  Jerufalem  j 
and  nence  the  feventy  weeks  are  dated. 

And  then,  after  thrs,  another  favourable  commlfiion  was 
granted  by  the  king  of  Perfia  to  Nehemiah^  which  we  have  an 
account  of  in  the  2d  chapter  of  Nehemiah. 

It  was  remarkable,  that  the  hearts  of  heathen  princes  fhould 
be  fo  inclined.  It  was  the  efpe£i  of  his  power,  who  hath  the 
hearts  of  kings  in  his  hands,  and  turneth  them  whitherfoever 
he  will ;  and  it  was  a  remarkable  inftance  of  his  favour  to 
his  people. 

Another  ri^markable  circumftance  pf  this  reftitution  of  the 
^ate  of  the  Jews  to  their  own  land  was,  that  it  was  accomplini-' 
cd  again  ft  fp  much  pppofition  pf  their  bitter  indefatigable  enc- 
inies  the  Samaritans,  who,  for  a  long  time  together,  with  all  the 
jnalice  and  craft  th.ey  could  exercife,  oppofed  the  Jews  in  this 
affair,  apd  fought  their  deftruftion  ;  one  while  by  Bifhlam, 
Mithridath,  Tabeel^  Rehum,  and  Shimfhai,  as  in  Ezra  iv.  and 
then  by  T^tnai,  Shetharboznai,  and  their  companions,  as  in 
chap»  V.  and  afterwards  by  Sanballat  and  Tobiah,  as  we  read  in 
the  book  pf  Nehemiah. 

We  have  fhewed  beforjB  how  the  fettlement  of  the  people  in 
this  lar^d  iti  Jofhua's  time  promoted  the  work  of  redemption. 
On  the  fame  accounts  does  their  rjsftitution  belong  to  the  famic 
work.  The  refettlement  of  the  Jews  in  the  land  of  Canaan  be- 
longs to  this  wor|i,  as  it  was  a  neceffary  means  pf  preserving  thp 
Jewifh  church  and  difpenfatipn  in  being,  until  Chrift  ftiould 
pome.  If  it  had  not  been  for  this  reftoration  pf  the  Jewifti 
church,  and  temple,  and  worlhip,  the  people  had  remained 
without  any  temple,  and  land  of  their  own,  that  fhould  be  as  it 
were  their  head  quarters,  a  place  of  worfhip,  habitation,  and  re- 
port J  the  whole  co»ftitution,  which  God  had  done  fo  much  tp 

cflablifh, 


Part  VI.       WO  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  PTI  O  N.        141 

eflablifli,  would  have  been  in  danger  of  utterly  failing,  long  be- 
fore that  iix  hundred  had  been  out,  'which  was  from  about  the 
time  of  the  captivity  until  Chrift.  And  fo  all  that  preparation 
which  God  had  been  making  for  the  coming  of  Chrift,  from  the 
time  of  Abraham,  would  have  been  in  vain.  Now  that  very 
tpmple  was  built  that  God  would  fill  with  glory  by  Chrift's  com- 
ing into  it,  as  the  Prophets  Haggai  and  Zechariah  told  the  Jews, 
to  encourage  them  in  building  it. 

y.  The  next  particular  I  would  obferve,  is  the  addition  made 
to  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures  foon  after  the  captivity  by  the 
prophets  Haggai  and  Zechariah,  who  were  prophets  fent  to  en- 
courage the  people  in  their  work  of  rebuilding  the  city  and  tem- 
ple ;  and  the  main  argument  they  make  ufe  of  to  that  end,  is 
the  approach  of  the  time  of  the  coming  of  Chrift.  Haggai 
foretold  that  Chrift  fhould  be  of  Zerubbabel's  legal  pofterity, 
laft  chapter  lafl  verfe.  This  feems  to  be  the  laft  and  mofl  par- 
ticular revelation  of  the  defcent  of  Chrift,  until  the  angel  Ga- 
briel was  fent  to  reveal  it  to  his  mother  Mary. 

The  next  thing  I  would  take  notice  of,   was  the  pouring  out 
of  the  Spirit  of  God'^hat  accompanied  the  miniftry  of  Ezra  the 
prieft  after  the  captivity.— That  there  was  fuch  a  pouring  out 
pf  the  Spirit  of  God  that  accompanied  Ezra's  miniftry,  is  man- 
ifcft  by  many  things  in  the  books  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah.     Pref- 
cntly  after  Ezra  came  up  from  Babylon,  with  the  ample  com- 
miftion  which  Artaxerxes  gave  him,   whence  Daniel's  feventy 
weeks  began,  he  fet  himfclf  to  reform  the  vices  and  corruptions 
he  found  among  the  Jews  ;  and  his  great  fuccefs  in  it  we  have 
an  account  of  in  the  aoth  chapter  of  Ezra  ;  fo   that  there  ap- 
peared a  very  general  and  great  mourning  of  the  congregation 
of  Krael  for  their  fins,   which  was  accompanied  with  a   folemn 
covenant  that  the  people  entered  into  with  God  ;  and  this  was 
followed  with  a  great  and  general  reformation,  as  we  have  there 
an  account.     And  the   people  about  the  fame  time,   with  great 
zeal,  and  earneftnefs,  and  reverence,  gathered  themfelves  togeth- 
er to  hear  the  word  of  God  read  by  Ezra  ;  and  gave  diligent 
attention,   while  Ezra  and  the  other  priefts   preached  to  them, 
by  reading  and  expounding  the  law,   and  were   greatly  affeded 
in  the  hearing   of  it.     They  wept  when  they  heard  the  words 
of  the  law,  and  fet  themfelves  to  obferve  the  law,   and  kept  the 
feaft  of  tabernacles,  as  the  fcripture  obferves,  after  fuch  a  man- 
ner as  it   had  not  been  kept  ftnce  the  days  of  Jofhua  the  fon  of 

Nun  .; 


14^  A    HISTORY    OP  THE  Period  I. 

Nun  ;  as  we  have  an  account  in  the  8th  chapter  of  Nchemiah  : 
And  after  this,  having  feparated  themfelves  from  all  ftrangers, 
they  folemnly  obferved  a  faft,  by  hearing  the  word  of  God,  con- 
fefling  their  fins,  and  renewing  their  covenant  with  God  ;  and  ' 
manifefted  their  fmcerity  in  that  tranfa£lion,  by  aftually  reform* 
ing  many  abufes  in  religion  and  morals  ;  as  we  learn  from  the 
^th  and  following  chapters  of  Nehemiah. 

It  is  obfervable,  that  it  has  been  God's  manner  in  every  re* 
tnarkable  new  cftablifliment  of  the  Rate  of  his  vifible  church, 
to  give  a  remarkable  outpouring  of  his  fpirit.  So  it  was  on  the 
firft  ellablifliment  of  the  church  of  the  Jews  at  their  firft  com- 
ing into  Canaan  under  Jofliua,  as  has  been  obferved  ;  and  fo  it 
was  now  in  this  fecond  fettlemcnt  of  the  church  in  the  fame 
land  in  the  time  of  Ezra  ;  and  fo  it  was  on  the  firft  eftablifti- 
ment  of  the  Chriftian  church  after  Chrift's  refurreftion  ;  God 
wifely  and  gracioufly  laying  the  foundation  of  thofe  eftablifh- 
ments  in  a  work  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  for  the  lafting  benefit  of  the 
ftate  of  his  church,  thenceforward  continued  in  thofe  eftablifh- 
ments.  And  this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  was  a  final 
cure  of  that  nation  of  that  particular  fin  \vhich  juft  before  they 
efpecially  run  into,  viz.  intermarrying  with  the  Gentiles  :  For 
however  inclined  to  it  they  were  before,  they  ever  after  fhewed 
an  averfion  to  it. 

VII.  Ezra  added  to  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures. — He  wrote 
the  book  of  Ezra  ;  and  he  is  fuppofed  to  have  written  the  two 
books  of  Chronicles,  at  lead  of  compiling  them,  if  he  was  not 
the  author  of  the  materials,  or  all  the  parts  of  thefe  writings. 
That  thefe  books  were  written,  or  compiled  and  completed,  af- 
ter the  captivity,  the  things  contained  in  the  books  themfelves 
make  manifeft  ;  for  the  genealogies  contained  therein,  arc 
ferought  down  below  the  captivity  ;  as  i  Chron.  iii.  17.  &c. 
We  have  there  an  account  of  the  poflerity  of  Jehoiachin  for 
fcveral  fucceflive  generations.  And  there  is  mention  in  thefe 
books  of  this  captivity  into  Babylon,  as  of  a  thing  paft,  and  of 
things  that  were  done  on  the  return  of  the  Jews  after  the  cap- 
tivity ;  as  you  may  fee  in  the  9th  chapter  of  1  Chron.  The 
chapter  is  moilly  filled  up  with  an  account  of  things  that  came 
to  pafs  after  the  captivity  into  Babylon,  as  you  may  fee  by  com- 
paring it  with  what  is  faid  in  the  books  of  Ezra  and  Nehemiah. 
And  that  Ezra  was  the  pcrfon  that  compiled  thefe  books,  is 
probable  by  this,   bccaufe   they  conclude  with    words   that   wc 

know 


Part  VI.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        143 

know  are  the  words  of  Ezra^s  hiftory.  The  two  laft  verfes  are 
Ezra's  words  in  the  hiftory  he  gives  in  the  two  firft  verfes  of 
the  book  of  Ezra. 

VIII.  Ezra  is  fuppofed  to  have  coUcftcd  all  the  books  of 
which  the  holy  fcriptures  did  then  conn  ft,  and  difpofed  them 
in  their  proper  order.  Ezra  is  often  fpoken  of  as  a  noted  and 
cininent  fcribe  of  the  law  of  God,  and  the  canon  of  fcripture  in, 
his  time  was  manifeftly  under  his  fpecial  care  ;  and  the  Jews, 
from  the  firft  accounts  we  have  from  them,  have  always  held, 
that  the  canon  of  fcripture,  fo  much  of  it  as  was  then  extant, 
Was  coUefted,  and  orderly  difpofed  and  fettled  by  Ezra  ;  and 
that  from  him  they  have  delivered  it  down  in  the  order  in 
Which  he  difpofed  it,  until  Chrift's  time  ;  when  the  Chriftian 
church  received  it  from  them,  and  have  delivered  it  down  to 
our  times.  And  the  truth  of  this  is  allowed  as  undoubted  by 
divines  in  general. 

IX,  The  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  and  promoted 
in  this  period,  by  greatly  multiplying  the  copies  of  the  law,  and 
appointing  the  conftant  publick  reading  of  them  in  all  the  cities 
of  Ifrael  in  their  fynagogues.      It  is   evident,   that  before  the 
captivity,  there  were  but  few  copies  of  the  law.     There   was 
the  original,  laid  up  befide  the  ark  ;  and  the  kings  were  requir- 
ed to  write  out  a  copy  of  the  law  for  their  ufe,  and  the  law  was 
required  to  be  read  to  the   whole  congregation  of  Ifrael  once 
every  feventh  year.     And  we   have  no  account  of  any   other 
ftated  publick  reading  of  the  law  before  the  captivity  but  this. 
And  it  is  manifeft  by  feveral  things  that  might  be  mentioned, 
that  copies  of  the  law  were  exceeding  rare  before  the  captivity. 
But  after  the  captivity,  the  conftant  reading  of  the  law  was  ict 
up  in  every  fynagogue  throughout  the  land.     Firft,    they  began 
with  reading  the  law,  and  then   they  proceeded  to   eftablifh  the 
conftant  reading  of  the   other   books  of   the  Old  Teftament. — 
And  leflbns  were  read  out  of  the  Old  Teftament,  as  m.'.de  up  of 
both  the    law  and  the    other  parts  of  the  fcripture  then   extant, 
in  all  the  fynagogues  which  were  fet  up  in  every  city,  and  eve- 
ry where,  wherever  the  Jews  in  any  confiderable  number  dwelt, 
as  out  meeting  houfes  are.     Thus  we  find  it  was  in  Chrift's  and 
the  apoftles'  time,  Afts  xv.  21.  <'  Mofes  of  old  time  hath  in  ev- 
ery city  them   that   preach    him,    being  read  in   the  fynagogues 
every  Sabbath  day.'*— This  cuftom  is  univerfally  fuppofed,  both 
by  Jews  and  Chriftians,  to  be  begun  by   Ezra.     There  were 

doubtlefs 


144  A    HISTORY    or  the  period  I. 

doubtlefs  publick  afTemblies  before  the  captivity  into  Babylon. 
They  ufecl  to  afTembie  at  the  temple  at  their  great  feafts,  and 
were  dirc£led,  when  they  were  at  a  lofs  about  any  thing  in  the 
law,  to  go  to  the  prieft  for  inflruftion  :  And  they  ufcd  aUo  to 
refort  to  the  prophets  houfes  :  And  we  read  of  fynagogues  in 
the  land  before,  Pf.  Ixxiv.  8.  But  it  is  not  fuppofed  thait  they 
had  copies  of  the  law  for  conftant  publick  reading  and  expound- 
ing through  the  land  before,  as  afterwards.  This  was  one  great 
means  of  their  being  preferved  from  idolatry. 

X.  The  next  thing  1  would  mention,  is  God's  remarkably 
preferving  the  church  and  nation  of  the  Jews,  when  they  \vere 
in  imminent  danger  of  being  univerfally  deflroyed  by  Haman. 
We  have  the  fiory  in  the  book  of  Efther,  with  which  you  arc 
acquainted.  The  ferles  of  providences  was  very  wonderful  in 
preventing  this  dellruftlon.  Eflher  was  doubtlefs  born  for  this 
end  to  be  the  inftrument  of  this  remarkable  prefervation. 

XI.  After  this  the  canon  of  fcripture  was  further  added  to  irf 
the  books  of  Nehemlah  and  Efther  ;  the  one  by  Nehemiah 
himfelf ;  and  whether  the  other  was  written  by  Nchemiah,  or 
Mordccai,  or  Malachi,  is  not  of  importance  for  us  to  know,  fd 
long  as  it  is  one  of  thofe  books  that  were  always  admitted  and 
received  as  a  part  of  their  canon  by  the  Jews,  and  was  among 
thofe  books  that  the  Jews  called  their  fcriptures  in  Chrifl's  time, 
and  as  fuch  was  approved  by  him.  For  Chrift  does  often  in 
his  fpeeches  to  the  Jews,  manifeftly  approve  and  confirm  thofe 
books,  which  amongft  them  went  by  the  name  of  the  fcriptures^ 
as  might  be  cafily  Ihown,  if  there  were  time  for  it. 

XII.  After  this  the  canon  of  the  Old  Teftament  was  complet- 
ed and  fealed  by  Malachi.  The  manner  of  his  concluding  his 
prophecy  feems  to  imply,  that  they  were  to  expe£l  no  more 
prophecies,  and  no  more  written  revelations  from  Cod,  until 
Chrifl  (hould  come.  For  in  the  Idd  chapter  he  prophefies  of 
Chrift's  coming;  ver.  2,  3.  "  But  unto  you  that  fear  my  name, 
fhall  the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  arife  with  healing  in  his  wings  ; 
and  ye  (hall  go  forth  and  grow  up  as  calves  of  the  ftall.  And 
ye  fhall  tread  down  the  wicked ;  for  they  fhall  be  as  afhcs  un- 
der the  foles  of  your  feet,  in  the  day  that  I  fhall  do  this,  faith 
the  Lord  of  hofts."  Then  we  read  in  ver.  4.  **  Remember  yc 
the  law  of  Mofes  my  fcrvant,  which  I  commanded  unto  him  in 
Horeb  for  all  Ifrael,  with  the  flatutes  and  judgments,"  i.  c.  Re- 
member  and  improve  what  yc  have  ;  keep  clofc  to  that  written 

rule 


Part  VI.      WOR  K    OF    R  EDEMPTION.  145 

rule  you  have,  as  expefting  no  more  additions  to  it,  until  the 
night  of  the  Old  Teftament  is  over,  and  the  Sun  of  Righteouf- 
nefs  fhall  at  length  arife. 

XIII.  Soon  after  this,  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  ceafed  among 
that  people  until  the  time  of  the  New  Teftament.  Thus  the 
Old  Teftament  light,  the  ftars  of  the  long  night,  began  apace  to 
hide  their  heads,  the  time  of  the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  now 
drawing  nigh.  We  before  obferved,  how  the  kings  of  the 
houfe  of  David  ceafed  before  the  true  king  and  head  of  the 
church  came ;  and  how  the  cloud  of  glory  withdrew,  before 
Chrift,  the  brightnefs  of  the  Father's  glory,  appeared ;  and  fo 
as  to  feveral  other  things.  And  now  at  laft  the  fpirit  of  proph- 
ecy ceafed.  The  time  of  the  great  Prophet  of  God  was  now 
fo  nigh,  it  was  time  for  the  typical  prophets  to  be  filent,  and 
fhut  their  mouths. 

We  have  now  gone  through  with  the  time  that  we  have  any 
hiftorical  account  of  in  the  writings  of  the  Old  Teftament,  anci 
the  laft  thing  that  was  mentioned,  by  which  the  work  of  re- 
demption was  promoted,  was  the  ceafing  of  the  fpirit  oiF 
prophecy. 

I  now  proceed  to  ftiow  how  the  work  of  redemption  was 
carried  on  through  the  remaining  times  that  were  before  Chrift : 
In  which  we  have  not  that  thread  of  fcripture  hiftory  to  guide 
us  that  we  have  had  hitherto ;  but  have  thefe  three  things  to 
guide  us,  viz.  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Teftament,  hiiman  his- 
tories of  thofe  times,  and  fome  occalional  mention  made,  and 
fome  evidence  given,  of  fome  things  which  happened  in  thofe 
times,  in  the  New  Teftament.     Therefore, 

XIV.  The  next  particular  that  I  {hall  mention  under  this  pe- 
riod, is  the  deftruftion  of  the  Perfian  empire,  and  fetting  up  of 
the  Grecian  empire  by  Alexander.  This  came  to  pafs  about 
fixty  or  feventy  years  after  the  times  wherein  the  Prophet  Mal- 
achi  is  fuppofed  to  have  prophefied,  and  about  three  hundred 
and  thirty  years  before  Chrift.  This  was  the  third  overturninjg 
of  the  world  that  came  to  pafs  in  this  period,  and  was  greater 
and  more  remarkable  than  either  of  the  foregoing.  It  was 
very  remarkable  on  account  of  the  fuddennefs  of  that  conqueft 
of  the  world  which  Alexander  made,  and  the  greatnefs  of  the 
empire  which  he  fet  up,  which  much  exceeded  all  the  foregoing 
in  its  extent. 

S  This 


1^6  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    THB  Period  I. 

This  event  is  much  fpokefi  of  in  the   prophecies  of  Daniel, 
This  empire  is   repreTented  by   the   third  kingdom  of  brafs  in 
Daniel's   interpretation  of  Nebuchadnezzar's  dream,  as  in  Dan. 
ii.  and  in  Daniel's  vifion  of  the   four  bealts,    is  reprefented  by 
the  third   beaft  that  was  like   a  leopard,   that  had  on   his  back 
four  wings  of  a  fowl,    to  rcprefent  the  fvviftneis  of  its  conqueft, 
chap.    vii.''and   is  more  particularly  reprefented  by  the   he   goat 
in  the  8th  chapter,  that  came  from  the  wed  on  the  face  of  the 
whole    earth,   and  touched  not  the  ground,  to  rcprefent  how 
fwiftly  Alexander  overran   the  world.     The  angel  himi'elf  does 
exprefsly  interpret   this  he  goat   to  fignify  the  king  of  Grecia, 
ver.  21,     The  rough  goat  is   the  king  of  Grecia  ;  and  the  great 
horn  that  is  between  his  eyes  is  the   hrfl  king,  i.  c.  Alexander 
himfelf. 

After   Alexander  had  conquered  the  world,  he  (oon  died ; 
and  his  dominion  did  not  defcend  to  his   pofterity,   but  four  of 
his   principal  captains   divided  his  empire  between  them,  as  it 
there  follows.     Now  that  being  broken,  whereas  four   flood  up 
for  it,  four  kingdoms  fhall  ftand  up  out  of  the  nation,  but  not 
in  his  power;  fo  you  may  fee  in  the   nth  chapter  of  Daniel. 
The  angel,  after  foretelling  of  the  Perfian  empire,  then  proceeds 
to  foretel  of  Alexander,  ver.  3;  "  And  a  mighty  king  fhall  ftand 
up,  that  fhall    rule   with  great   dominion,  and  do  according  to 
Jiis  will.'*     And  then  he  foretels,  in  the  4th  verfc,  of  the  divid- 
ing of  his  kingdom  between  his  four  captains  :  "  And  when  he 
fball  ftand  up,  his  kingdom  fhall  be  broken,  and  fhall  be  divid- 
ed toward  the  four  winds  of  heaven  ;  and  not  to  his  pofterity, 
nor  according  to  his  dominion  which  he  ruled:  For  his  king- 
dom fhall  be  plucked  up,  even  for  others  befides  thofe.'*     Two 
of  thefc  four  captains,  who'fe  kingdoms  were  next  to  Judea,  the 
one  had  Egypt  and  the  neighbouring  countries  on   the  fouth  of 
Juiea,  and  the  other  had  Syria,  and  the  neighbouring  countries 
north   of  Judea ;  and   thefe  two  are  thofe   that   are   called  the 
kings  of  the  north  and  of  the   fouth  in  the   nth  chapter  of 
Daniel. 

Now,  this  fetting  up  of  the  Grecian  empire  did  greatly  prc» 
pare  the  wayfor  Chrift's  coming,  and  fetting  up  his  kingdom 
in  the  world.  Befides  thofe  ways  common  to  the  other  over- 
turnings  of  the  world  in  this  period,  that  have  been  already 
fiientioned,  there  is  one  peculiar  to  this  revolution  which  I 
Wouid  take  notice  of,  which  did  renurkably  promote  the  work 

of 


Part  VI.       WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.         147 

of  redemption;  and  that  was,  that  it  made  the  Greek  langraagc 
common  in  the  world.  To  have  one  common  language  under- 
ftood  and  ufed  through  the  greater  part  of  the  world,  was  % 
thing  that  did  greatly  prepare  the  way  for  the  fetting  up  of 
Chrifl's  kingdom.  This  gave  advantage  for  fp reading  the  gof- 
pel  from  one  nation  to  another,  and  fo  through  all  nations,  with 
vallly  greater  cafe,  than  if  every  nation  had  a  diftinft  language, 
and  did  not  underltand  each  other.  For  though  fome  of  the 
firft  preachers  of  the  gofpel  had  the  gift  of  languages,  fo  that 
they  could  preach  in  any  language ;  yet  all  had  not  this  par- 
ticular gift ;  and  they  that  had,  could  not  exercife  it  when  they 
would,  but  only  at  fpeclal  feafons,  when  the  Spirit  of  God  was 
pleafed  to  infpirc  them  in  this  way.  And  the  church  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  world,  as  the  churches  of  Jcrufalem,  Antioch, 
Galatia,  Corinth,  and  others,  which  were  in  countries  diftant 
one  from  another,  could  not  have  had  that  communication  one 
with  another,  which  we  have  an  account  of  in  the  book  of 
Acts,  if  they  had  had  no  common  language.  So  it  was  before 
the  Grecian  empire  was  fet  up.  But  after  this,  many  in  all 
thefe  countries  well  underflood  the  fame  language,  viz.  the 
Greek  language ;  which  wonderfully  opened  the  door  for  mu- 
tual communication  between  thofe  churches,  fo  far  feparated 
one  from  another.  And  again,  the  making  the  Greek  language 
common  through  fo  great  a  part  of  the  world,  did  wonderfully 
make  way  for  the  fetting  up  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  becaufc 
it  was  the  language  in  which  the  New  Teftament  was  to  be 
originally  written.  The  apoflles  propagated  the  gofpel  through 
many  fcores  of  nations  ;  and  if  they  could  not  have  underllood 
the  Bible  any  otherwife  than  as  it  was  tranflated  into  fo  many 
languages,  it  would  have  rendered  the  fpreading  of  the  gofpel 
vaftly  more  difficult.  But  by  the  Greek  language  being  made 
common  to  all,  they  all  underflood  the  New  Teftament  of  Jefus 
Chrift  in  the  language  in  which  the  apofllcs  and  evangelifts 
originally  wrote  it :  So  that  as  foon  as  ever  it  was  written  by  its 
original  penmen,  it  immediately  lay  open  to  the  world  in  a  lan- 
guage that  was  commonly  underftood  every  where,  as  there  was 
no  language  that  was  fo  commonly  underftood  in  the  world  in 
Chrift^s  and  the  apoftles'  time^  as  the  Greek  ;  the  caufe  of  which 
was  the  fetting  up  of  the  Grecian  empire  in  the  world. 

XV.  The  next  thing  I  fir  all  take  notice  of  is,  the  tranflating 
of  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Tcllamcnt  into  a  language  that  was 

commonly 


uS  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  I. 

commonly  underflood  by  the  Gentiles,  The  tranflation  that  I 
here  fpeak  of  is  that  into  the  Greek  language,  that  is  common- 
ly called  the  Septuagint,  or  the  tranflation  of  the  Seventy. 
This  is  fuppofed  to  have  been  made  about  fifty  or  fixty  years 
after  Alexander's  conquering  the  world.  This  is  the  firft  tranf- 
lation that  ever  was  made  of  the  fcriptures  that  we  have  any 
credible  account  of.  The  canon  of  the  Old  Teftament  had 
been  completed  by  the  prophet  Malachi  but  about  an  hundred 
and  twenty  years  before  in  its  original ;  and  hitherto  the  fcrip- 
tures had  remained  locked  up  from  all  other  nations  but  the 
Jews,  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  which  was  underftood  by  no  other 
nation.  But  now  it  was  tranflated  into  the  Greek  language, 
which,  as  we  obferved  before,  was  a  language  that  was  com- 
monly underflood  by  the  nations  of  the  world. 

This  tranflation  of  the  Old  Teftament  is  ftill  extant,  and  is 
commonly  in  the  hands  of  the  learned  men  in  thefe  days,  and 
Is  made  great  ufe  of  by  them. — The  Jews  have  many  fables 
about  the  occafion  and  manner  of  this  tranflation  ;  but  the  truth 
of  the  cafe  is  fuppofed  to  be  this,  that  multitudes  of  the  Jews 
living  in  other  parts  of  the  world  befides  Judea,  and  being  born' 
and  bred  among  the  Greeks,  the  Greek  became  their  common 
language,  and  they  did  not  under  Hand  the  original  Hebrew  ; 
and  therefore  they  procured  the  fcriptures  to  be  tranflated  for 
their  ufe  into  the  Greek  language  ;  and  fo  henceforward  the 
Jews,  in  all  countries,  except  Judea,  were  wont  in  their  fyna- 
gogues  to  make  ufe  of  this  tranflation  inftead  of  the  Hebrew. 

This  tranflation  of  the  fcriptures  into  a  language  commonly 
underftood  through  the  world,  prepared  the  way  for  Chrill's 
coming,  and  fetting  up  his   kingdom  in  the  world,   and  after- 
yrards  did  greatly  promote  it.     For  as  the  apoftles  went  preach- 
ing through  the  world,  they  made  great  ufe  of  the  fcriptures  of 
the  Old  Teftament,  and  efpecially  of  the  prophecies  concerning 
Chrift  that  were   contained  in  them.     And  by  means  of  this 
tranflation,  and  by  the  Jews  being  fcattered  every  where,  they 
had  the   fcriptures  at   hand  in  a  language   that  was  underflood 
by  the  Gentiles  ;  And   they  did  principally  make   ufe  of  this 
tranflation  in  their  preaching  and  writings  wherever  they  went  ; 
9S  is  evident  by  this,  that  in  all  the  innumerable  quotations  that 
are  made  out  of  the  Old  Teftament  in  their  writings  in  the 
New  Teftament,  they    are  almoft  every    where  in   the    very 
words  of  the  Septuagint,— The  fenfc  is  the  fame  as  it  is  in  the 

original 


Part  VI.       WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         14^ 

original  Hebrew  ;  but  very  often  the  words  arc  different,  as  all 
that  are  acquainted  with  their  Bibles  know.  When  the  apof- 
tles  in  their  epiftles,  and  the  evangelifts  in  their  hiftories,  cit# 
paffages  out  of  the  Old  Teftament,  it  is  very  often  in  different 
words  from  what  we  have  in  the  Old  Teftament,  as  all  know. 
But  yet  thefe  citations  are  almoft  univerfally  in  the  very  words 
of  the  Septuagint  verfion  ;  for  that  may  be  fecn  by  comparing 
them  together,  they  being  both  written  in  the  fame  language. 
This  makes  it  evident,  that  the  apoftles,  in  their  preaching  and 
writings,  commonly  made  ufe  of  this  tranflation.  So  this  very 
tranflation  was  that  which  was  principally  ufed  in  Chriftiai; 
churches  through  mod  nations  of  the  world  for  feveral  hundre4 
years  after  Chrift. 

XVI.  The  next  thing  is  the  wonderful  prefervation  of  tht 
churck  when  it  was  imminently  threatened  and  perfecuted  under 
the  Grecian  empire. 

The  firft  time  they  were  threatened  was  by  Alexander  him- 
felf.  When  he  was  befieging  the  city  of  Tyre,  fending  to  the 
Jews  for  aflillance  and  fupplies  for  his  army,  and  they  refufmg, 
out  of  a  cpnfcientious  regard  to  their  oath  to  the  king  of  Perfia, 
he  being  a  man  of  a  very  furious  fpirit,  agreeable  to  the  fcrip- 
ture  reprefentation  of  the  rough  he  goat,  marched  againft  them, 
with  a  defign  to  cut  them  off.  But  the  priefts  going  out  to 
meet  him  in  their  prieftly  garments,  when  he  met  them,  God 
wonderfully  turned  his  heart  to  fpare  them,  and  favour  them, 
much  as  he  did  the  heart  of  Efau  when  he  met  Jacob. 

After  this,  one  of  the  kings  of  Egypt,  a  fuccelTor  of  one  of 
Alexander's  four  captains,  entertained  a  defign  of  deftroying 
the  nation  of  the  Jews  ;  but  was  remarkably  and  wonderfully 
prevented  by  a  ftronger  interpofition  of  Heaven  for  their 
prefervation. 

But  the  mofl  wonderful  prefervation  of  them  all  in  this  pe- 
riod was  under  the  cruel  perfecution  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes, 
king  of  Syria,  and  fucceffor  of  another  of  Alexander's  four 
captains.  The  Jews  were  at  that  time  fubje6l  to  the  power  of 
Antiochus  ;  and  he  being  enraged  againft  them,  long  ftrove  to 
his  utmoft  utterly  to  deftroy  them,  and  root  them  out  ;  at  leaft 
all  of  them  that  would  not  forfake  their  religion  and  worfhip 
his  idols  :  And  he  did  indeed  in  a  great  meafure  wafte  the 
country,  and  depopulate  the  city  of  Jerufalem  -,  and  profaned 
the  temple,  by  fctting  up  his  idols  in  fomc  parts  of  it  ;  and  per- 
fecuted 


350  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP  the  Period  I. 

fccuted  the  people  with  infatiable  cruelty  ;  fo  that  we  have  no 
account  of  any  perfecution  like  his  before.  Many  of  the  par- 
Cicular  circumilances  of  this  perfecution  would  be  very  affeft- 
ing,  if  I  had  time  to  infift  on  them. — This  cruel  perfecution 
began  about  an  hundred  and  feventy  years  before  Chrift.  It  is 
much  fpoken  of  in  the  prophecy  of  Daniel,  as  you  may  fee, 
Dan.  viii,  9. — 25.  &  xi.  31. — 38.  Thefe  perfecutions  are  alfo 
fpoken  of  in  the  New  Teftament,  as,  Heb.  xi.  36,  37,  38. 

Antiochus  intended  not  only  to  extirpate  the  Jewifh  religion, 
but,  as  far  as  in  him  lay,  the  very  nation  ;  and  particularly  la- 
boured to  the  utmoll  to  deftroy  all  copies  of  the  law.  And 
confidering  how  weak  they  were,  in  comparifon  with  a  king  of 
fuch  vaft  dominion,  the  providence  of  God  appears  very  won- 
derful in  defeating  his  defign.  Many  times  the  Jews  feemed  to 
be  on  the  very  brink  of  ruin,  and  jull  ready  to  be  wholly  fwal- 
lowed  up  :  Their  enemies  often  thought  themfelves  fure  of  ob- 
taining their  purpofe.  They  once  came  again  ft  the  people  with 
a  mighty  army,  and  with  a  defign  of  killing  all,  except  the 
women  and  children,  and  of  felling  thefe  for  (laves  ;  and  they 
were  fo  confident  of  obtaining  their  purpofe,  and  others  of  pur- 
chafing,  that  above  a  thoufand  merchants  came  with  the  army, 
with  money  in  their  hands,  to  buy  the  flaves  that  fliould  be 
fold.  But  God  wonderfully  ftirred  up  and  alTifted  one  Judas, 
and  others  his  fucceflbrs,  that  were  called  the  Maccabees,  who, 
with  a  fmall  handful  in  comparifon,  vanquifhed  their  enemies 
time  after  time,  and  delivered  their  nation  ;  which  was  fore- 
told by  Daniel,  xi.  32.  Speaking  of  AntIochus*s  perfecution, 
he  fays,  "  And  fuch  as  do  wickedly  againft  the  covenant,  fhall 
he  corrupt  by  flatteries  :  But  the  people  that  do  know  their 
God,  fhall  be  ftrong,  and  do  exploits." 

God  afterwards  brought  this  Antiochus  to  a  fearful,  miferable 
end,  by  a  loathfome  difeafe,  under  dreadful  torments  of  body, 
and  horrors  of  mind  ;  which  was  foretold,  Dan.  xi.  45.  in  thefe 
words,  "  Yet  he  fhall  come  to  his  end,  and  none  fhall  help  him." 

After  his  death,  there  were  attempts  flill  to  deftroy  the  church 
of  God  ;  but  God  baffled  them  all. 

XVII,  The  next  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  the  Grecian  empire,  and  fetting  up  of  the  Roman  em- 
pire. This  was  the  fourth  overturning  of  the  world  that  was 
in  this  period.  And  though  it  was  brought  to  pafs  more  grad- 
ually than  the  fetting  up  of  the  Grecian  empire,  yet  it  far  ex- 
ceeded 


Part  VI.      W  O  R  K    oi    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  1  O  N.        151 

cecded  that,  and  was  much  the  greateft  and  largeft  temporal 
monarchy  that  ever  was  in  the  world  ;  fo  that  the  Romam  em- 
pire was  commonly  called  all  the  world;  as  it  is  in  Luke  ii.  1. 
*«  And  there  went  out  a  decree  from  Cefar  Auguftus,  that  all 
the  world  fhould  be  taxed  ;"  i,  e.  all  the  Roman  empire. 

This  empire  is  fpoken  of  as  much  the  ftrongeft  and  greateft 
of  any  of  the  four  :  Dan.  ii.  40.  "  And  the  fourth  kingdom 
fhall  be  flrong  as  iron  ;  forafmuch  as  iron  breaketh  in  pieces, 
and  fubdueth  all  things  :  And  as  iron  that  breaketh  all  thele, 
fhall  it  break  in  pieces,  and  bruife."     So  alfo,  Dan,  vii.  7.  19.  23. 

The  time  that  the  Romans  firft  conquered  and  brought  under 
the  land  of  Judea,  was  between  fixty  and  feventy  years  before 
Chrifl  was  born.  And  foon  after  this,  the  Roman  empire  was 
citabiifhed  in  its  greateft  extent  ;  and  the  world  continued  fub- 
jeft  to  this  empire  henceforward  until  Chrifl  came,  and  many 
hundred  years  afterwards. 

The  nations  of  the  world  being  united  in  one  monarchy  when 
Chrifl:  came,  and  when  the  apodles  went  forth  to  preach  the 
gofpel,  did  greatly  prepare  the  way  for  the  fpreading  of  the  gof- 
pel,  and  the  fetting  up  of  Chrifl's  kingdom  in  the  world.  For 
the  world  being  thus  fubjeft  to  one  government,  it  opened  a 
communication  from  nation  to  nation,  and  fo  opportunity  was 
given  for  the  more  fwiftly  propagating  the  gofpel  through  the 
world.  Thus  we  find  it  to  be  now  :  As  if  any  thing  prevails 
in  the  Englifh  nation,  the  communication  is  quick  from  one 
part  of  the  nation  to  another,  throughout  all  parts  that  are  fub» 
jeft  to  the  Englifli  government,  much  eafier  and  quicker  than 
to  other  nations,  which  are  not  fubje£t  to  the  Englifh  govern- 
ment, and  have  little  to  do  with  them.  There  are  innumerable 
difficulties  in  travelling  through  different  nations,  that  are  un^ 
der  different  independent  governments,  which  there  are  not  in 
travelling  through  different  parts  of  the  fame  realm,  or  different 
dominions  of  the  fame  prince.  So  the  world  being  under  one 
government,  the  government  of  the  Romans,  in  Chrifl:'s  and  the 
apofl:les'  times,  facilitated  the  apoftles*  travelling,  and  the  gofpei's 
fpreading  through  the  world. 

XVIII.  About  the  fame  time  learning  and  philofophy  were 
rifen  to  their  greateft  height  in  the  heathen  world.  The  time 
of  learning's  flourlfhing  in  the  heathen  world  was  principally  in 
-this  period.  Almoft  all  the  famous  philofophcrs  that  we  have 
an  account  of  among  the  heathen,  were  after  the  captivity  into 

Babylon* 


152  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THB  Period  I. 

Babylon,     Almoft  all  the  wife  men  of  Greece  and  Rome  fiour- 
ilhcd  in  this  time.     Thefe  philofophers,    many  of  them,  were 
indeed  men  of  great  temporal  wifdom  ;  and  that  which  they  in 
general  chiefly  profeffed  to  make  their  bufmefs,  was  to  inquire 
wherein  man's  chief  happinefs  lay,  and  the  way  in  which  men 
might  obtain  happinefs.     They  feemed   earneflly  to  bufy  them* 
felves   in  this  inquiry,   and  wrote  multitudes  of  books  about  it, 
Xftany  of  which  are    flill  extant.     And    they  were   exceedingly 
divided  in  their  opinions  about  it.     There  have  been   reckoned 
up  feveral  hundreds   of  different  opinions  that  they  had   con- 
cerning it.     Thus  they  wearied  themfelves   in  vain,  wandered 
\n  the  dark,  not  having  the  glorious  gofpel  to  guide  them.     God 
was  pleafed  to  fuffer  men  to  do  the  utmoft  that  they  could  with 
human  wifdom,  and  to  try  the  extent  of  their  own  underftand- 
ings  to  find  out  the  way  to  happinefs,  before  the  true  light  came 
tp  enlighten  the   world  ;  before  he  fent  the  great  Prophet  to 
lead  men  in  the  right  way  to  happinefs.     God  fuffered   thefe 
great  philofophers  to  try  what  they  could  do   for  fix   hundred 
years  together  ;  and  then  it  proved,  by  the  events  of  fo  long  a 
time,  that  all  they  could  do  was  in  vain  ;  the  world  not  becom- 
ing wifer,  better,  or  happier  under  their  inflruftions,  but  grow- 
irig  more  and  more  foolifh,  wicked,  and  miferable.     He  fuffered 
their  wifdom  and  philofophy  to  come  to  the  greateft  height  be- 
fore Chrifl  came,  that  it  might  be  feen  how  far  reafon  and  phi- 
lofophy could  go  in  their  higheft  afcent,  that  the  necefTity  of  a 
divine  teacher  might  appear  before  Chrifl  came.     And  God  was 
pleafed  to  make  foolifh  the  wifdom  of  this  world,  to  fhew  men 
the  folly  of  their  beft  wifdom,  by  the  doftrines  of  his  glorious 
gofpel  which  were  above  the  reach  of  all  their  philofophy.     See 
1  Cor.  i.  19,  20,  21. 

And  after  God  had  fhowed  the  vanity  of  human  learning, 
when  fet  up  in  the  room  of  the  gofpel,  God  was  pleafed  to  make 
it  fubfervicnt  to  the  purpofes  of  Chrifl's  kingdom,  as  an  hand- 
maid to  divine  revelation  ;  and  fo  the  prevailing  of  learning  in 
the  world  before  Chrift  came,  made  way  for  his  coming  both 
thefe  ways,  viz.  as  thereby  the  vanity^  of  human  wifdom  was 
ftiown,  and  the  neceffity  of  the  gofpel  appeared  ;  and  alfo  as 
hereby  an  handmaid  was  prepared  to  the  gofpel  ;  for  fo  it  was 
made  ufe  of  in  the  Apoflle  Paul,  who  was  famed  for  his  much 
learning,  as  you  may  fee.  Ads  xxvi.  24.  and  was  (killed  not  on* 
ly  in  the  learning  of  the  Jews,  but  alfo  of  the  philofophers  ; 

and 


Part  VI.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION. 


«53 


and  improved  it  to  the  purpofes  of  the  gofpel  ;  as  you  may  fee 
he  did  in  difputing  with  the  philofophers  at  Athens,  Afts  xvii, 
^2.  &c.  He  by  his  learning  knew  how  to  accommodate  him- 
felf  in  his  difcourfes  to  learned  men,  as  appears  by  this  difcourfe 
of  his  ;  and  he  knew  well  how  to  improve  what  he  had  read  in 
their  writings  ;  and  he  here  cites  their  own  poets.  And  now 
Dionyfius,  that  was  a  philofopher,  was  converted  by  him,  and, 
as  ecclefiaftical  hiftory  gives  us  an  account,  made  a  great  inftru- 
ment  of  promoting  the  gofpel.  And  there  were  many  others  in 
that  and  the  following  ages,  who  were  eminently  ufeful  by 
their  human  learning  in  promoting  the  interefts  of  Chrill's 
kingdom. 

XIX.  Jull:  before  Chrift  was  born,  the  Roman  empire  was 
raifed  to  its  greateft  height,  and  alfo  fettled  in  peace.  About 
four  and  twenty  years  before  Chrift  was  born,  Auguftus  Cefar, 
the  firft  Roman  emperor,  began  to  rule  as  emperor  of  the  world. 
Until  then  the  Roman  empire  had  of  a  long  time  been  a  com- 
monwealth under  the  government  of  the  fenate  :  But  then  it 
became  an  abfolute  monarchy.  This  Auguftus  Cefar,  as  he  was 
the  firft,  fo  he  was  the  greateft  of  all  the  Roman  emperors  :  He 
reigned  in  the  greateft  glory.  Thus  the  power  of  the  heathen 
world,  which  was  Satan's  vifible  kingdom,  was  raifed  to  its 
greateft  height,  after  it  had  been  rifing  higher  and  higher,  and 
ftrengthening  itfelf  more  and  more  from  the  days  of  Solomon 
to  this  day,  which  was  about  a  thouf and  years.  Now  it  appeared 
at  a  greater  height  than  ever  it  appeared  from  the  firft  begin- 
ning of  Satan's  heathenifh  kingdom,  which  was  probably  about 
the  time  of  the  building  of  Babel.  Now  the  heathen  world  was 
in  its  greateft  glory  for  ftrength,  wealth,  and  learning, 

God  did  two  things  to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrift's  cominr, 
wherein  he  took  a  contrary  method  from  that  which  human 
wifdom  would  have  taken.  He  brought  his  own  vifible  people 
very  low,  and  made  them  weak  ;  but  the  heathen,  that  were 
his  enemies,  he  exalted  to  the  greateft  height,  for  the  more  glo- 
rious triumph  of  the  crofs  of  Chrift.  With  a  fmall  number  in 
their  greateft  weaknefs,  he  conquered  his  enemies  in  their  grcaf- 
cft  glory.  Thus  Chrift  triumphed  over  principalities  and  pow- 
ers in  his  crofs. 

Auguftus    Cefar  had  been  for  many   years  eftabiifbing  the 
ftate  of  the  Roman   empire,  fubduing  his  enemies  in  ORe  part 
and  another,  until  the  very  year  that  Chrift  was  born  ;  whe;!^!! 
T  his 


i54  '^^    HISTORY    OF  THE  Penod  I. 

his  enemies  being  iubdued,  and  his  dominion  over  the  world 
feemed  to  be  fettled  in  its  greateft  glory.  All  was  ellablilhcd  in 
peace  ;  in  token  whereof  the  Romans  fliut  the  temple  of  Janus, 
which  was  an  edablifhed  fymbol  among  them  of  there  being 
univerfal  peace  throughout  the  Roman  empire.  And  this  uni- 
verfal  peace,  which  was  begun  that  year  that  Chrifl  was  born, 
lalled  twelve  years,  until  the  year  that  Chrlft  difputcd  with 
doflors  in  the  temple. 

Thus  the  world,  after  it  had  been,  as  it  were,  in  a  continual  con- 
Vulfion  forfo  many  hundred  years  together,  like  the  four  winds 
ilriving  together  on  the  tumultuous  raging  ocean,  whence  arofe 
thofe  four  great  monarchies,  being  now  efiabliikcd  in  the  great- 
ell  height  of  the  fourth  and  lalt  monarchy,  and  fettled  ia  quiet- 
nefs  ;  now  all  things  are  ready  for  the  birth  of  Chrift.  This  re- 
markable univerfal  peace  after  fo  many  ages  of  tumult  and  war, 
was  a  fit  prelude  for  theufhering  of  the  glorious  Prince  of  Peace 
into  the  world. 

Thus  I  have  gone  through  the  firfl  grand  period  of  the  whole 
fpace  between  the  fall  of  man  and  the  end  of  the  world,  viz. 
that  from  ^he  fall  to  the  time  of  the  incarnation  of  Chrifl ;  and 
have  fhown  the  truth  of  the  fir  11  propofition,  viz.  That/rowi  the 
fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  of  Chriji,  God  was  doing  thole  things 
that  were  preparatory  to  Chrifl's  coming,  and  were  forerun- 
ners of  it. 

I  M  P  R  O  V  E  M  E  N  T. 

BEFORE  I  proceed  to  the  next  propofition,  I  would  make 
fome  few  remarks,  by  way  of  improvement,  upon  what  has 
been  faid  under  this, 

I.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  flron^ly  argue,  that 
Jefus  of  Nazareth  is  indeed  the  Son  of  G©d,  and  the  Saviour 
of  the  world  ;  and  fo  that  the  Chridian  religion  is  the  true  re^ 
ligion,  feeing  that  Chrifl  is  the  very  perfon  fo  evidently  point- 
ed at,  in  all  the  great  difpenfations  of  divine  providence  frora 
the  very  fall  of  man,  and  was  fo  undoubtedly  in  fo  many  in- 
flances  foretold  from  age  to  age,  and  fh  ado  wed  forth  in  a  vaft 
variety  of  types  and  figures.  If  we  ferioufly  confider  the  courfe 
of  things  from  the  beginning,  andobferve  the  motions  of  all  the 
great  wheels  of  providence  from  one  age  to  another,  we  fhall  dif- 
ccrn  that  they  all  tend  hither.  They  are  all  as  fo  many  lines,  whofe 

courfe, 


Impr.  WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  155 

courfe.  if  it  be  obfeived  and  accurately  followed,  it  will  be  found 
that  every  one  centres  here.  It  is  fo  very  plain  in  many  things^ 
that  it  would  argue  ftupidity  to  deny  it.  This  therefore  is  unde- 
niable, that  this  pcrfon  is  a  divine  perfon  fent  from  God,  that 
came  into  the  world  with  his  commifFion  and  authority,,  to  do 
his  work  and  to  declare  his  mind.  The  great  Governour  of  the 
world,  in  all  his  great  works  before  and  fince  the  flood,  to  Jews 
and  Gentiles,  down  to  the  time  of  ChrilVs  birth,  has  declared 
it.  It  cannot  be  any  vain  imagination,  but  a  plain  and  evident 
truth,  that  that  perfon  that  was  born  at  Bethlehem,  and  dwelt 
at  Nazareth,  and  at  Capernaum,  and  was  crucified  without  the 
gates  of  Jerufalem,  muft  be  the  great  MefTiah,  or  anointed  of 
God.  And  blelTed  are  all  they  that  believe  in  and  confefs  him, 
and  miferable  are  all  that  deny  him.  This  fhows  the  unrea- 
ionablenefs  of  the  Deifts,  who  deny  revealed  religion,  and  of 
the  Jews,  who  deny  that  this  Jefus  is  the  Mcfiiah  foretold  and 
promifed  to  their  fathers. 

Here  it  may  be  fome  perfons  may  be  ready  to  obje£l,  and  fay, 
That  it  may  be,  fome  lubtle,  cunning  men  contrived  this  hiflo- 
ry,  and  thefe  prophecies,  fo  that  they  fliould  all  point  to  Jefus 
Clirift  on  purpofe  to  confirm  it,  that  he  is  the  MefTiah.  To 
fuch  it  may  be  replied,  ^  How  could  fuch  a  thing  be  contrived 
by  cunning  men  to  point  to  Jefus  Chrift,  long  before  he  ever 
was  born  ? — ^  How  could  they  know  that  ever  any  fuch  perfon 
would  be  born  ?  And,  ^  How  could  their  craft  and  fubtilty 
help  them  to  forefee  and  point  at  an  event  that  was  to  come  to 
pafs  many  ages  afterwards  ?  for  no  fad  can  be  more  evident, 
than  that  the  Jews  had  thofe  writings  long  before  Chrifl  was 
born  ;  as  they  have  them  flill  in  great  veneration,  wherever 
they  are,  in  all  their  dif'perfions  through  the  world  ;  and  they 
would  never  have  received  fuch  a  contrivance  from  Chriftians, 
to  point  to  and  confirm  Jefus  to  be  the  MefTiah,  whom  they  al- 
ways denied  to  be  the  MefTiah  ;  and  much  lefs  would  they  have 
been  made  to  believe  that  they  always  had  had  thofe  books  in 
their  hands,  when  they  were  firllmade  andlmpofed  upon  them. 

11.  What  has  been  faid,  affords  a  ftrong  argument  for  the 
divine  authority  of  the  books  of  the  Old  Teflament,  from  that 
admirable  harmony  there  is  in  them,  whereby  they  all  point  to 
the  fame  thing.  For  we  may  fee  by  what  has  been  faid,  how 
all  the  parts  of  the  Old  Tcftament,  though  written  by  fo  many 
different  penmen,  and  in  ages  diftant  one  from  another,  do  aU 

harmonize 


156  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  I. 

harmonize  one  with  another  ;  all  agree  in  one,  and  all  centre 
in  the  fame  thing,  and  that  a  future  thing  ;  an  event  which  it 
was  impofTible  any  one  of  them  fhould  know  but  by  divine  rev- 
elation, even  the  future  coming  of  Chrift.  This  is  moft  evident 
and  manifefl  in  them,  as  appears  by  what  has  been  faid. 

Now,  if  the  Old  Teftament  was  not  infpired  by  God,  ^  What 
account  can  be  given  of  fuch  an  agreement  ?  For  if  thefe  books 
were  only  human  writings,  written  without  any  divine  direc- 
tion, then  none  of  thefe  penmen  knew  that  there  would  come 
fuch  a  perfon  as  Jefus  Chrift  into  the  world  ;  his  coming  was 
only  a  mere  figment  of  their  own  brain  :  And  if  fo,  ^  How  hap- 
pened it,  that  this  figment  of  theirs  came  to  pafs  ? — ^j  How  came 
a  vain  imagination  of  theirs,  which  they  foretold  without  any 
manner  of  ground  for  their  prediftion,  to  be  fo  exa6lly  fulfilled  ? 
and  efpecially,  ^  How  did  they  come  all  to  agree  in  it,  all  point- 
ing  exaftly  to  the  fame  thing,  though  many  of  them  lived  f6 
many  hundred  years  diHant  one  from  another  ? 

This  admirable  confent  and  agreement  in  a  future  event,  is 
therefore  a  clear  and  certain  evidence  of  the  divine  authority  of 
thofe  writings. 

III.  Hence  we  may  learn  what  a  weak  and  ignorant  objec- 
tion it  is  that  fome  make  againfl  fome  parts  of  the  Old  Tefla- 
ment's  being  the  word  of  God,  that  they  confifl  fo  much  of  hif- 
tories  of  the  wars  and  civil  tranfaftioris  of  the  kings  and  people 
of  the  nation  of  the  Jews.  Some  fay,  We  find  here  among  the 
books  of  a  particular  nation,  hiftories  v/hich  they  kept  of  the 
itate  of  their  nation,  from  one  age  to  another  ;  hiflories  of  their 
kings  and  rulers,  hiflories  of  their  wars  with  the  neighbouring 
nations,  and  hiftories  of  the  changes  that  happened  from  time 
to  time  in  their  ftate  and  government  :  And  fo  we  find  that 
other  nations  ufed  to  keep  hiflories  of  their  publick  affairs,  as 
well  as  they  ;  and,  ^  Why  then  fhould  we  think  that  thefe  hif- 
tories which  the  Jews  kept  are  the  word  of  God,  more  than 
thofe  of  other  people  ?  But  what  has  been  faid,  fhows  the  folly 
and  vanity  of  fuch  an  objeftion.  For  hereby  it  appears,  that 
the  cafe  of  thefe  hiflories  is  very  different  from  that  of  all  other 
hiflories.  This  hiflory  alone  gives  us  an  account  of  the  lirfl  orig- 
inal of  all  things  ;  and  this  hiflory  alone  deduces  things  down  in 
a  wonderful  feries  from  that  original,  giving  an  idea  of  the  grand 
fcheme  of  divine  providence,  as  tending  to  its  great  end.  And 
together  with  the  doftrines  and  prophecies  contained  in  it,  the 

fame 


Impr.  WORK    of     REDEMPTION.  157 

fame  book,  gives  a  view  of  the  whole  feries  of  the  great  events 
of  divine  providence,  from  the  firfl  original  to  the  laft  end  and 
confummation  of  all  things,  giving  an  excellent  and  glorious 
account  of  the  wife  and  holy  defigns  of  the  Governour  of  the 
•world  in  all. 

No  common  hiflory  has  fuch  penmen  as  this  hi  (lory,  wliich 
was  all  written  by  men  who  came  with  evident  figns  and  tefti-' 
monies  of  their  being  prophets  of  the  raoft  high  God,  immedi* 
ately  infpired. 

And  the  hiflories  that  were  written,  as  we  have  feen  from 
what  has  been  faid  uuder  this  propofition,  do  all  contain  thofc 
great  events  of  providence,  by  which  it  appears  how  God  hai 
been  carrying  on  the  glorious  divine  work  of  redemption  from 
age  to  age.  Though  tjicy  are  hiflories,  yet  they  are  no  lefs  full 
of  divine  inflruftion,  and  thofe  things  that  fhow  forth  Chrift, 
and  his  glorious  gofpel,  than  other  parts  of  the  holy  fcriptures 
which  are  not  hiftorical. 

To  object  againfl  a  book's  being  divine,  merely  becaufe  it  is 
hiftorical,  is  a  poor  objeftion  ;  juft  as  if  that  could  not  be  the 
word  of  God  which  gives  an  account  of  what  is  paft  ;  or  as 
though  it  were  not  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  God,  in  a  reve- 
lation he  fhould  give  mankind,  would  give  us  any  relation  of 
the  difpenfations  of  his  own  providence.  If  it  be  fo,  it  niuft  be 
becaufe  his  works  are  not  worthy  to  be  related  ;  it  muft  be  be- 
caufe the  Icheme  of  his  government,  and  feries  of  his  difpenfa- 
tions towards  his  church,  and  towards  the  world  that  he  has 
made,  whereby  he  has  ordered  and  difpofed  it  from  age  to  age, 
is  not  worthy  that  any  record  fhould  be  kept  of  it. 

The  objeftion  that  is  made,  That  it  is  a  common  thing  for 
nations  and  kingdoms  to  write  hiftori^s  and  keep  records  of 
their  wars,  and  the  revolutions  that  come  to  pafs  in  their  terri- 
tories, is  fo  far  from  being  a  weighty  obje6lion  againft  the  hif- 
torical part  of  fcripture,  as  though  it  were  not  the  word  of  God, 
that  it  is  a  ftrong  argument  in  favour  of  it.  For  if  reafon  and 
the  light  of  nature  teaches  all  civilized  nations  to  keep  records 
of  the  events  of  their  human  government,  and  the  feries  of  their 
adminiftrations,  and  to  publifh  hiftories  for  the  information  of 
others ;  ^  How  much  more  may  we  expefl,  that  God  would  give 
the  world  a  record  of  the  difpenfations  of  his  divine  govern- 
mentj  which  doubtlefs  is  infinitely  more  worthy  of  an  hiftory 
for  our  information?  If  wife  kings  have  tikcn  care  that  there 

fhould 


158  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    THE  Period  I. 

(hould  be  good  hiftories  written  of  the  nations  over  which  they 
have  reigned,  ^  Shall  we  think  it  incredible,  that  Jefus  Chrifl 
ihould  take  care  that  his  church,  which  is  his  nation,  his  pecu- 
liar people,  fhauld  have  in  their  hands  a  certain  infallible  hiflo- 
ry  of  their  nation,  and  of  his  government  of  them  ? 

If  it  had  not  been  for  the  hiftory  of  the  Old  Teltament,  how 
wofuUy  fhould  we  have  been  left  in  the  dark  about  many  things 
which  the  church  of  God  needs  to  know  !  How  ignorant  fhould 
i,ve  have  been  of  God's  dealings  towards  mankind,  and  towards 
bis  church,  from  the  beginning !  and  we  would  have  been 
wholly  in  the  dark  about  the  creation  of  the  world,  the  fall  of 
man,  the  Hrfl  rife  and  continued  progrefs  of  the  difpenfations 
of  grace  towards  fallen  mankind !  and  we  fhould  have  known 
nothing  hov/  God  at  lirfl  fet  up  a  church  in  the  world,  and 
how  it  was  preferved  ;  after  what  manner  he  governed  it  from 
the  beginning;  how  the  light  of  the  gofpel  firft  began  to  dawn 
in  the  world ;  how  it  increafed,  and  how  things  were  preparing 
for  the  coming  of  ChVift. 

If  we  are  Chriftians,  we  belong  to  that  building  of  God  that 
has  been  the  fubjetb  of  our  difcourfe  from  this  text :  But  if  it 
had  not  been  for  the  hiilory  of  the  Old  Teftament,  we  fliould 
never  have  known  what  was  the  firft  occafion  of  God's  going 
about  this  building,  and  how  the  foundation  of  it  was  laid  at 
iirft,  and  how  it  has  gone  on  from  the  beginning.  The  times 
of  the  hiftory  of  the  Old  Teftament  are  moitly  times  that  no 
other  hiftory  reaches  up  to  ;  and  therefore,  if  God  had  not  tak- 
en care  to  give  and  preferve  an  account  of  thefe  things  for  us, 
we  fhould  have  been  wholly  without  them. 

Thofe  that  objeft  againft  the  authority  of  the  Old  Teftament 
hiftory  of  the  nation  of  the  Jews,  may  as  well  make  an  objec- 
tion againft  Mofcs's  account  of  the  creation  that  it  is  hiftorical  ; 
for,  in  the  other,  we  have  an  hiftory  of  a  work  no  lefs  import- 
ant, .viz,  the  work  of  redemption.  Yea,  this  is  a  far  greater 
and  more  glorious  work,  as  we  obferved  before ;  that  if  it  be 
inquired  which  of  the  two  works,  the  work  of  creation,  or  the 
work  of  providence,  is  greatcft ;  it  muft  be  anfwered,  the  work 
of  providence  ;  but  the  work  of  redemption  is  the  greateft  of 
the  works  of  providence. 

And  let  thofe  who  niakc  this  objeftion  confider  what  part  of 
the  Old  Teftament  hiftory  can  be  fpared  without  making  a  great 

.  breach 


Impr.  WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  159 

breach  in  that  thread  or  feries  of  events  by  which  this  glorious 
work  has  been  carried  on. This  leads  me  to  obferve, 

IV.  That,  from  what  has  been  fald,  we  may  fee  much  of  the 
wifdom  of  God  in  the  compoiition  of  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old 
Teftament,  i.e.  in  the  parts  of  which  it  coniids.  By  what  has 
been  faid,  we  may  fee  that  God  hath  wifely  given  us  fuch  reve- 
lations in  the  Old  Tellament  as  we  needed.  Let  us  briefly  take 
a  view  of  the  fevcral  parts  of  it,  and  of  the  need  there  was  of 
them. 

Thus  it  was  necelTary  that  Vv'e  fhould  have  fome  account  of 
the  creation  of  the  world,  and  of  our  firfl  parents,  and  their 
primitive  ftate,  and  of  the  fall,  and  a  brief  account  of  the  old 
world,  and  of  the  degeneracy  of  it,  and  of  the  univerfal  deluge, 
and  fome  account  of  the  origin  of  nations  after  this  deilru6lion 
of  mankind. 

It  fcems  necefTary  that  there  fl-iould  be  fome  account  of  the 
fucceflion  of  the  church  of  God  from  the  beginning  :  And  lec- 
ing  God  fuffercd  all  the  world  to  degenerate,  and  only  took  one 
nation  to  be  his  people,  to  preferve  the  true  worfhip  and  relig- 
ion until  the  Saviour  of  the  world  fliould  come,  that  in  them 
the  world  might  gradually  be  prepared  for  that  great  light,  and 
thofe  wonderful  things  that  he  was  to  be  the  author  of,  and  that 
they  might  be  a  typical  nation,  and  that  in  them  God  might 
fhadow  forth  and  teach,  as  under  a  veil,  all  future  glorious 
things  of  the  gofpel ;  it  was  therefore  neceffary  that  we  fhould 
have  fome  account  of  this  thing,  how  it  was  firfl  done  by  the 
calling  of  Abraham,  and  by  their  being  bondflaves  in  Egypt, 
and  how  they  were  brought  to  Canaan.  It  was  necefTary  thai 
we  fhould  have  fome  account  of  the  revelation  v/hich  God  made 
of  himfelf  to  that  people,  in  giving  their  law,  and  in  the  ap- 
pointment of  their  typical  worfhip,  and  thofe  things  wherein 
the  gofpel  is  veiled,  and  of  the  forming  of  that  people,  both  as 
to  their  civil  and  ecclefiafbical  ftate. 

It  feems  exceeding  neccffary  that  we  ftiould  have  fome  ac- 
count of  their  being  aftually  brought  to  Canaan,  the  councry 
that  was  their  promifed  land,  and  where  they  always  dweh. 
It  feems  very  ncceifary  that  we  fhould  have  an  hiftory  of  the 
fuccefhons  of  the  church  of  Ifracl,  and  of  thofe  providences  of 
God  towards  them,  which  were  moft  confiderable  and  fuUclb 
of  gofpel  myftery.  It  feems  necelTary  that  we  fhould  liavc 
fome  account  of  the  higheft  proi^ifed  external  glory  of  that  na- 
tion 


i6o  A    HISTORY    OF  THE  Period  I. 

tion  under  David  and  Solomon,  and  that  we  fhould  have  a  very 
p.articular  account  of  David,  whofc  hiftory  is  fo  full  of  the  gof- 
pel,  and  fo  neceffary  in  order  to  introduce  the  gofpel  into  the 
world,  and  in  whom  began  the  race  of  their  kings  ;  and  that 
we  {hould  have  fome  account  of  the  building  of  the  temple, 
which  was  alfo  fo  full  of  gofpel  myllery. 

And  it  is  a  matter  of  great  confequence,  that  we  fliould  have 
forae  account  of  Ifrael's  dividing  from  Judah,  and  of  the  ten 
tribes'  captivity  and  utter  rejeftion,  and  a  brief  account  why, 
and  therefore  a  brief  hiftory  of  them  until  that  time.  It  is  nec- 
elTary  that  we  fhould  have  an  account  of  the  fucceflion  of  the 
kings  of  Judah,  and  of  the  church,  until  their  captivity  into 
Babylon  ;  and  that  we  fhould  have  fome  account  of  their  return 
from  their  captivity,  and  refettlement  in  their  own  land,  and 
of  the  origin  of  the  laft  ftate  that  the  church  was  in  before 
Chrift  came. 

A  little  confideration  will  convince  every  one,  that  all  thefe 
things  were  neceffary,  and  that  rione  of  them  could  be  fpared  ; 
and  in  the  general,  that  it  was  neceffary  that  we  fliould  have  an 
hiftory  of  God's  church  until  fuch  times  as  are  within  the  reach 
of  human  hiftories;  and  it  was  of  vaft  importance  that  we 
fhould  have  an  infpired  hiftory  of  thofe  times  of  the  Jewifh 
church,  wherein  there  was  kept  up  a  more  extraordinaiy  inter- 
courfe  between  God  and  them,  and  while  he  ufed  to  dwell 
among  them  as  it  were  vifibly,  revealing  himfelf  by  the  Shechi- 
na,  by  Urim  and  Thummim,  and  by  prophecy,  and  fo  more  im- 
mediately to  order  their  affairs.  And  it  was  neceffary  that  wc 
fliould  have  fome  account  of  the  great  difpenfations  of  God  in 
prophecy,  which  were  to  be  after  the  finifhing  of  infpired  hif- 
tory ;  and  fo  it  was  exceeding  fuitable  and  needful  that  there 
fhould  be  a  number  of  prophets  ralfed  who  fhould  foretel  the 
coming  of  the  Son  of  God,  and  the  nature  and  glory  of  his  king- 
dom, to  be  as  fo  many  harbingers  to  make  way  for  him,  and 
that  their  prophecies  fhould  remain  in  the  church. 

It  was  alfo  a  matter  of  great  confequence  that  the  church 
ftiould  have  a  book  of  divine  fongs  given  by  infpiration  from 
God,  wherein  there  fhould  be  a  lively  reprefentation  of  the 
tlue  fpirit  of  devotion,  of  faith,  hope,  and  divine  love,  joy,  re- 
fignation,  humility,  obedience,  repentance,  &c.  and  alfo  that 
we  fhould  have  from  God  fuch  books  of  moral  inftru8:ions  as 
we  have  in  Proverbs  and  Ecclchaftes,  relating  to  the  affairs  and 

flatr 


Impr.  WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  161^ 

ftate  of  mankind,  and  the  concerns  of  human  life,  containing 
rules  of  true  wifdom  and  prudence  for  our  condu6l  in  all  cir- 
cumftances  ;  and  that  we  fhould  have  particularly  a  fong  rep- 
refenting  the^  great  love  between  Chrift  and  his  fpoufe  the 
church,  particularly  adapted  to  the  difpofition  and  holy  affec- 
tions of  a  true  chriftian  foul  towards  Chrifl,  and  reprefenting 
his  grace  and  marvellous  love  to,  and  delight  in,  his  people  ;  as 
we  have  in  Solomon's  Song  ;  and  efpecially  that  we  fhould  have 
a  book  to  teach  us  how  to  conduft  ourfelves  under  aflliftion, 
feeing  the  church  of  God  here  is  in  a  militant  ftate,  and  God's  peo- 
ple do  through  much  tribulation  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heav- 
en ;  and  the  church  is  for  fo  long  a  time  under  trouble,  and 
meets  with  fuch  excejsdingly  fiery  trials,  and  extreme  fufferings, 
before  her  time  of  peace  and  reft  in  the  latter  ages  of  the  world 
fhall  come  :  Therefore  God  has  given  us  a  book  moft  proper  in 
thefe  circumftances,  even  the  book  of  Job,  written  upon  occa- 
fion  of  the  affliftions  of  a  particular  faint,  and  was  pr®bablv  at. 
firit  given  to  the  church  in  Egypt  under  her  afflidions  there  ; 
and  is  made  ufe  of  by  the  Apoille  to  comfort  chriftians  under 
perfecutions,  James  v.  11.  "Ye  have  heard  of  the  patience  of 
Job,  and  have  feen  the  end  of  the  Lord  ;  that  the  Lord  is  verv 
pitiful,  and  of  tender  mercy.'*  God  was  alfo  pleafed,  in  this 
book  of  Job,  to  give  fome  view  of  the  ancient  divinity  before 
the  giving  of  the  law. 

Thus,  from  this  brief  review,  I  think  it  appears,  that  every 
part  of  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teftament  is  very  ufeful  and 
necelTary,  and  no  part  of  it  can  be  fpared,  without  lofs  to  the 
church.  And  therefore,  as  I  faid,  the  wifdom  of  God  is  confpic- 
uous  in  ordering  that  the  fcriptures  of  the  Old  Teftament  fhould 
conlift  of  thofe  very  books  of  which  they  do  confift. 

Before  I  difmifs  this  particular,  I  would  add,  that  it  is  very 
obfervable,  that  the  hiftory  of  the  Old  Teftament  is  large  and 
particular  where  the  great  affair  of  redemption  required  it;  as 
where  there  was  moft  done  towards  this  work,  and  moft  to  typ- 
ify Chrift,  and  to  prepare  the  way  for  him.  Thus  it  is  very 
large  and  particular  in  the  hiftory  of  Abraham  and  the  other 
patriarchs  ;  but  very  fhort  in  the  account  we  have  of  the  time 
which  the  children  of  Ifrael  fpent  in  Egypt.  So  again  it  is 
large  in  the  account  of  the  redemption  out  of  Egypt,  and  the 
firft  fettling  of  the  affairs  of  the  Jewifh  church  and  nation  in 
Mofes  and  Jofhua's  time ;  but  much  fhorter  in  the  account  of 
U  the 


i62  A    HISTORY    OF  THE  Period  I, 

the  times  of  the  judges.  So  again,  it  is  large  and  particular  in 
the  account  of  David's  and  Solomon's  times,  and  then  very 
fhort  in  the  hiflory  of  the  enfuing  reigns.  Thus  the  accounts 
are  large  or  fhort,  jull  as  there  is  more  or  lefs  of  the  affair  of 
redemption  to  be  leen  in  them. 

V,  From  what  has  been  faid,   we  may  fee,  that  Chrift  and 
his  redemption  are  the  great  fubjeft  of  the  whole  Bible.     Con* 
cerning  the  New  Teftament,  the  matter  is  plain ;  and  by  what 
has  been  laid  on  this  fubjeft  hitherto,  it  appears  to   be  fo  alfa 
with  refpeft  to  the  Old  Teflament.     Chrift  and  his  |;edemptIon 
is  the  great  fubjefl:  of  the  prophecies  of  the  Old  Teflament,  as 
has  been   fliown.     It  has  alfo  been  fliown,  that  he  is  the  great 
fubjeft  of  the  iongs  of  the  Old  Teflament  ;  and  the  moral  rules 
and  precepts  are  all  given  in  fubordlnatlon  to  him.     And  Chrifb 
and  his    redemption  are  alfo  the  great  fubjcft  of  the  hiflory  of 
the  Old  Teflament  from  the  beginning  all  along  ;  and  even  the 
hiflory  of  the  creation  is  brought  in  as  an  introduttlon  to  the 
hiflory  of  redemption  that  immediately  follows  it.     The  whole 
book,  both  Old  Teflament  and  New,  is  filled  up  with  the  gof- 
pel ;  only  with  this   difference,  that  the   Old  Teflament  con- 
tains the  gofpel  under  a  veil,  but  the  New  contains  it  unveiled, 
fo  that  we  may  fee  the  glory  of  the  Lord  with  open  face. 

VI.  By  what  has  been  faid,  we  may   fee   the  ufefulnefs  and 
excellency  of  the  Old  Teflament,     Some  are  ready  to  look  on 
the  Old  Teflament  as  being,   as  it  were,  out  of  date,  and  as   if 
we  in  thefe  days  of  the  gofpel  have  but  little  to  do  with  it ; 
which  is  a  very  great  miflake,   arifmg  from  want  of  obferving 
the  nature  and  defign  of  the  Old  Teflament,   which,  if  it  were 
obferved,  would  appear  full  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrifl,  and  would 
in  an  excellent  manner  illuftrate  and  confirm  the  glorious  doc- 
trines and  promifes  of  the  New  Teflament.     Thofe  parts  of  the 
Old  Teflament  which  are  commonly  looked  upon  as  containing 
the  leafl  divine  inflruftion,  are  as  it  were  mines   and  treafurcs 
of  gofpel  knowledge ;  and  the  reafon  why  they  are  thought  to 
contain  fo  little  is,  becaufe  perfons  do  but  fuperficially  read 
them.     The  treafures  which  are  hid  underneath  are  not  obferv- 
ed.    They  only  look  on  the  top  of  the  ground,  and  fo  fudden- 
ly  pafs  a  judgment  that  there  is  nothing  there.     But  they  never 
dig  into  the  mine  :  If  they  did,  they  would  find  it  richly  flored 
with  filver  and  gold,  and  would  be  abundantly  requited  for 
their  pains. 

What 


Impr,  WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  163 

What  has  been   fald,  may  fhow  us  what   a   precious  trcafure 
God  has  committed  into  our  hands,  in  that  he  lias  given  us  the 
Bible.     How   little   do  mod  perfons   conlidcr    how  much  they 
enjoy,   in   that  they  have  the  poffefhon  of  that  holy  book  the 
Bible,     which   they  have    in  their   hands,   and    may  converle 
with    it  as  they  plcafe.     What  an   excellent  book  is  this,  and 
how  far  exceeding  all  human  writings,  that  reveals  God  to  us, 
.  and  gives  us  a  view  of  the  grand  dclign  and  glorious  fcheme  of 
providence  from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  either  in  hiftory 
-or  prophecy;  that  reveals  the  great  Redeemer  and  his  glorious 
redemption,  and  the  various   fleps  by  which  God  aecomplifhes 
it  from  the   firft   foundation  to  the  top  flone !  ^i  Shall  we  prize 
an  hiftory  which  gives  us  a  clear  account  of  fome  great  earthly 
prince,  or  mighty  warrior,  as  of  Alexander  the  Great,  or  Julius 
Cefar,  or  the  Duke  of  Marlborough  ? — And,  ^  Shall  we  not  prize 
the  hiftory  that  God  gives  us  of  the  glorious  kingdom  of  his 
Son  Jefus  Chrift,  the  Prince  an4  Saviour,  <ind  of  the  wars  and 
other  great  tranra6lions  of  that  King  of  kings,   a«d   Lord  of  ar- 
mies, the  Lord  mighty  in  battle,  the  hiftory  of  the  things  which 
he  has  wrought  for  the  redemption  of  his  cholen  people  ? 

VII,  What  has  been  faid,  may  make  us  fenfible  how  much 
moft  perfons  are  to  blame  for  their  inattentive,  unobservant  way 
of  reading  the  fcriptures. — ^  How  much  do  thefcriptures  contain, 
if  it  were  but  obferved  ?  The  Bible  is  the  moj(l  comprehenfive 
book  in  the  world.  But,  ^  What  will  all  this  iignify  to  us,  if  we 
read  it  without  obferving  what  is  the  drift  of  the  Holy  Ghoft- 
in  it  ?  The  Pfalmift,  Pfal.  cxix.  18.  begs  of  God,  "That  he 
would  enlighten  his  eyes,  that  he  might  behold  wondrous 
things  out  of  his  law-"  The  fcriptures  are  full  of  wondrous 
things.  Thofe  hiftories  which  are  commonly  read  as  if  they 
were  only  hiftories  of  the  private  concerns  of  fuch  and  fuch 
particular  perfons,  fuch  as  the  hiftories  of  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and 
Jacob,  and  Jofeph,  and  the  hiftory  of  Ruth,  and  the  hiftories 
of  particular  lawgivers  and  princes,  as  the  hiftory  of  Joftiua  and 
the  Judges,  and  David,  and  the  Ifraelitifh  princes,  are  accounts 
of  vaftly  greater  things,  things  of  greater  importance,  and  more 
extenfive  concernment,  than  they  that  read  them  arc  commonly 
aware  of. 

The  hiftories  of  fcrlpture  are  commonly  read  as  if  they  were 
ftories  written  only  to  entertain   men's  fancies,    and  to  while 
*way  their  leifure  hours,  when  the  infinitely  great  things  con- 
tained 


i64  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  I. 

tained  or  pointed  at  in  them  are  pafTed   over  and  never  taken 
notice  of.     Whatever  treafures  the  fcriptures  contain,  we  fhall 
be   never  the  better  for  them  if  we  do  not  obferve  them.     He 
that  has  a  Bible,   and  does  not  obferve  what  is  contained  in  it, 
is  like  a  man  who  has  a  box  full  of  filver  and  gold,  and  does 
not  know  it,  does  not  obferve  that  it  is  any  thing  more  than  a 
veffel   filled  with  common  ftones.     As  long  as  it  is  thus  with 
him,  he  will  be   never  the  better  for  his  treafure  :  For   he  that 
knows  not  that  he  has  a  treafure,  will  never  make  ufe   of  what 
he  has,  and  fo  might  as  well   be  without  it.     He   who  has  a 
plenty  of  l^ie  choicefl  food  ftored  up  in  his  houfe,  and  does  not 
know  it,  will  never  tafte  what  he  has,  and   will  be  as  likely  to 
flarve  as  if  his  houfe  were  empty, 

VIII,  What  has  been  faid  may  fhow  us  how  great  a  perfon 
Jefus  Chrifl  is,  and  how  great  an  errand  he  came  into  the  world 
upon,  feeing  there  was  fo  much  done  to  prepare  the  way  for  his 
coming.  God  had  been  doing  nothing  elfe  but  prepare  the  way 
for  his  coming,  and  doing  the  work  which  he  had  to  do  in  the 
world,  through  all  ages  of  the  world  from  the  very  beginning. 
If  we  had  notice  of  a  certain  ftranger's  being  about  to  come  into 
a  country,  and  fhould  obferve  that  a  great  preparation  was  made 
for  his  coming,  that  many  months  were  taken  up  in  it,  and  great 
things  were  done,  many  great  alterations  were  made  in  the  ftate 
of  the  whole  country,  and  that  many  hands  were  employed, 
and  perfons  of  great  note  were  engaged  in  making  preparation 
for  the  coming  of  this  perfon,  and  the  whole  country  was  over- 
turned, and  all  the  affairs  and  concerns  of  the  country  were  or- 
dered fo  as  to  be  fubfervient  to  the  defign  of  entertaining  that 
perfon  when  he  fhould  come;  it  would  be  natural  for  us  to 
think  with  ourfelves,  why,  furelyj  this  perfon  is  fome  extra- 
ordinary perfon  indeed,  and  it  is  fome  very  great  bufinefs  that 
he  is  coming  upon. 

^  How  great  a  perfon  then  mufl  he  be,  for  whofe  coming  into 
the  world  the  greatGodof  heaven  and  earth,  and  Governour  of  all 
things,  fpent  four  thoufand  years  in  preparing  the  way,  going 
about  it  foon  after  the  world  was  created,  and  from  age  to  age 
doing  great  things,  bringing  mighty  events  to  pafs,  accomplifh- 
ing  wonders  without  number,  often  overturning  the  world  in  or- 
der to  it,  and  caufing  every  thing  in  the  ftate  of  mankisd,  and 
all  revolutions,  and  changes  in  the  habitable  world  from  genera- 
tion to  generation,  to  be  fubfervient  to  this  great  defign  ?  Surely 

this 


\ 


Impr.  WOP.  K    of    REDEMPTION.  1^5 

this  muft  be  fome  great  and  extraordinary  perfon  indeed,  and  a 
great  work  indeed  it  muft  needs  be  that  he  is  coming  about. 

We  read,  Matth.  xxi.  8,  9,  10.  that  when  Chrift  was  coming 
into    Terufalem,   and  the   multitudes   ran  before    him,   and   cut 
down  branches  of  palm  trees,  and  ftrewed  them  in  the  way,  and 
others  fpread  their  garments  in  the  way,  and  cried,  "  Hofannah 
to  the  fon  of  David,"  that  the  whole  city  was  moved,   faying, 
^  Who  is  this  P  They  wondered  who  that  extraordinary  perfon 
fhould  be,  that  there  ftiould  be  fuch  an  ado  made  on  the  occafioti 
of  his  coming  into  the  city,  and  to  prepare  the  way  before  him. 
But  if  we  confider  what  has  been  faid  on  this  fubjeft,  what  great 
things  were  done  in   all  ages  to  prepare  the  way  for   Chrift's 
coming  into  the  world,  and  how  the  world  was  often  overturned 
to  make  way  for  it,  much  more  may  we  cry  out,  ^i  Who  is  this  ? 
^  What  great   perfon    is   this  ?   and  fay,  as  in  Pfal.  xxlv.  8.  10. 
"^  Who  is  this  king  of  glory,"  that  God  fhould  (how  fuch  re- 
fpea,  and  put  fuch  vafl  honour  upon  him  ?  Surely  this  perfon 
is  honourable  indeed  in  God's  eyes,  and  greatly  beloved  of  him  ; 
and  furely  it  is  a  great  errand  upon  which  he  is   fent  into   the 
world. 


PERIOD 


i66  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE         Period  II. 


PERIOD        11. 


XjLAVING  fhown  how  the  work  of  redemption 
was  carried  on  through  the  firfl  period,  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  I  come  now  to  the  fecond  period,  viz. 
the  time  of  Chrift's  humiliation,  or  the  fpace  from  the  incarna- 
tion of  Chrifl  to  his  refurreftion.  And  this  is  the  moft  re- 
markable article  of  time  that  ever  was  or  ever  will  be.  Though 
it  was  but  between  thirty  and  forty  years,  yet  more  was  done  in 
it  than  had  been  done  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  that 
time.  We  have  obfervcd,  that  all  that  had  been  done  from  the 
fall  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  was  only  preparatory  for  what 
was  done  now.  And  it  may  alfo  be  obfervcd,  that  all  that  was 
done  before  the  beginning  of  time,  in  the  eternal  counfels  of 
God,  and  that  eternal  tranfaftion  there  was  between  the  perfons 
of  the  Trinity,  chiefly  refpefted  this  period.  We  therefore 
now  proceed  to  confider  the/econd  propofidoriy  viz. 

That  during  the  time  of  Chrijl's  humiliation^  Jrom  his  incarnation  to 
his  rejurredion,  the  purchafc  of  redemption  was  made. 

Though  there  were  many  things  done  in  the  affair  of  re- 
demption from  the  fall  of  man  to  this  time,  though  millions  of 
facrifices  had  been  offered  up  ;  yet  nothing  was  done  to  pur- 
chafe  redemption  before  Chrift's  incarnation  :  No  part  of  the 
purchafe  was  made,  no  part  of  the  price  was  offered  until  now. 
But  as  foon  as  Chrift  was  incarnate,  then  the  purchafe  began 
immediately  without  any  delay.  And  the  whole  time  of 
Chrift's  humiliation,  from  the  morning  that  Chrift  began  to  be 
incarnate,  until  the  morning  that  he  rofe  from  the  dead,  was 
taken  up  in  this  purchafe.  And  then  the  purchafe  was  entirely 
and  completely  hnifhed.  As  nothing  was  done  before  Chrift's 
incarnation,  fo  nothing  was  done  after  his  refurreftion,  to  pur- 
chafe redemption  for  men.  Nor  will  there  ever  be  any  thing 
more  done  to  all  eternity.  But  that  very  moment  that  the  hu- 
man nature  of  Chrift  ceafed  to  remain  under  the  power  of 
death,  the  utmoft  farthing  was  paid  of  the  price  of  the  falvation 
of  every  one  of  the  elefl. 

But 


Part  I.         W  O  R  K    OF   R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  1^7 

But  for  the  more  orderly  and  regular  confideration  of  the 
great  things  done  by  our  Redeemer  to  purchafe  redemption 
for  us, 

i.  I  would  fpeak  of  Chrifl's  becoming  incarnate  to  capacitate 
himfelf  for  this  purchafe  ; — and, 

2.  I  would  fpeak  of  the  puf chafe  itfelf, 

P     A      R      T  I. 

FIRST,  I  would  confider  Chrifl's  coming  into  the  world,  or 
his  taking  upon  him  our  nature  to  put  himfelf  in  a  capacity  to 
purchafe  redemption  for  us. — Chrift  became  incarnate,  or,  which 
is  the  fame  thing,  became  man,  to  put  himfelf  in  a  capacity  for 
working  out  our  redemption  :  For  though  Chrift,  as  God,  was 
infinitely  fufficient  for  the  work,  yet  to  his  being  in  an  imme- 
diate capacity  for  it,  it  was  needful  that  he  fhould  not  only  be. 
God,  but  man.  If  Chrift  had  remained  only  in  the  divine  na- 
ture, he  would  not  have  been  in  a  capacity  to  have  purchafed 
our  falvation  ;  not  from  any  imperfeftion  of  the  divine  nature, 
but  by  reafon  of  its  abfolute  and  infinite  perfetlion  ;  For  Chrift, 
merely  as  God,  was  not  capable  either  of  that  obedience  or  fuf- 
fering  that  was  needful.  The  divine  nature  is  not  capable  of 
fuffering  ;  for  it  is  infinitely  above  all  fuffering.  Neither  is  it 
capable  of  obedience  to  that  law  that  was  given  to  man.  It  is 
as  impofTible  that  one  who  is  only  God,  fhould  obey  the  law 
that  was  given  to  man,  as  it  is  that  he  fhould  fuffer  man's  pun- 
ifhment. 

And  it  was  neceffary  not  only  that  Chrift  fhould  take  upon 
him  a  created  nature,  but  that  he  ftiould  take  upon  him  our  na- 
ture. It  would  not  have  fufficed  for  us  for  Chrift  to  have  be- 
come an  angel,  and  to  have  obeyed  and  fulfcrcd  in  the  angelick 
nature.  But  it  was  neceffary  that  he  Ihould  become  a  man,  ana 
that  upon  three  accounts. 

1.  It  was  needful  to  anfwtr  the  law,  that  that  nature  Jhould  obey  th€ 
law,  to  which  the  law  was  given»  Man's  law  could  not  be  anlwer- 
ed,  but  by  being  obeyed  by  man.  God  infifted  upon  it,  that  the 
law  which  he  had  given  to  man  fhould  be  honoured  and  fub- 
mitted  to,  and  fulfilled  by  the  nature  of  man,  otherwife  the  law 
could  not  be  anfwered  for  men.     The  words  that  were  fpoken, 

Thou 


i68  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    oi-    the  Period  IL 

Thou  fhalt  not  eat  thereof,  Thou  (halt,  or  Thou  flialt  not  do 
thus  or  thus,  were  fpoken  to  the  race  of  mankind,  to  the  hu- 
man nature  ;  and  therefore  the  human  nature  muft  fulfil  them. 

2.  It  zvas  needful  to  anfwer  the  law  that  the  nature  that  finned Jhould 
die*  Thefe  words,  "  Thou  fhalt  furely  die,"  refpeft  the  human 
nature.  The  fame  nature  to  which  the  command  was  given, 
was  the  nature  to  which  the  threatening  was  direfted. 

3.  Godfaw  meet^  i/iat  the  fame  world  which  was  the  jiage  of  man's 
fall  and  ruin,  Jhould  alfo  be  the  jiage  of  his  redeviption.  We  read 
often  of  his  coming  into  the  world  to  fave  finners,  and  of  God's 
fending  him  into  the  world  for  this  purpofe.  It  was  needful 
that  he  fhould  come  into  this  finful,  mifcrable,  undone  world, 
to  rellore  and  fave  it.  In  order  to  man's  recovery,  it  was  need- 
ful that  he  fhould  come  down  to  man,  to  the  world  that  was 
man's  proper  habitation,  and  that  he  fhould  tabernacle  with  us  ; 
John  i.  14.  '«  The  Word  was  made  fledi,  and  dwelt  among  us." 

Concerning  the  incarnation  of  Chrift,  I  would  obierve  thefe 
following  things. 

I.  The  incarnation  itfelf  ;  in  which  efpecially  two  things  arc 
to  be  confidered,  viz. 

1.  His  conception,  which  was  in  the  womb  of  one  of  the  race 
of  mankind,  whereby  he  became  truly  the  Son  of  Man,  as  he 
was  often  called.  He  was  one  of  the  pofterity  of  Adam,  and  a 
child  of  Abraham,  and  a  fon  of  David,  according  to  God's 
promife.  But  his  conception  was  not  in  the  way  of  ordinary 
generation,  but  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghoft.  Chrift  was 
formed  in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin,  of  the  fubftance  of  her 
body,  by  the  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  So  that  he  was  the 
immediate  fon  of  the  woman,  but  not  the  immediate  fon  of  any 
male  whatfoever  ;  and  fo  was  the  feed  of  the  woman,  and  the 
fon  of  a  virgin,  one  that  had  never  known  man. 

2.  His  birth. Though  the  conception  of  Chrift  was  fuper- 

natural,  yet  after  he  was  conceived,  and  fo  the  incarnation  of 
Chrift  begun,  his  human  nature  was  gradually  perfeded  in  the, 
womb  of  the  virgin,  in  a  way  of  natural  progrefs  ;  and  fo  hir. 
birth  was  in  the  way  of  nature.  But  his  conception  being  fu- 
pernatural,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  he  was  both  con- 
ceived and  born  without  fin. 

II.  The  fecond  thing  I  would  obferve  concerning  the  incar- 
nation of  Chrift,  is  the  fulnefs  of  the  time  in  which  it  was  ac- 
complifhed.     It  was  after  things  had  been  preparing  for  it  from 

the 


Parti.        WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  1^,  ig^ 

the  very  firft  fall  of  mankind,  and  when  all  things  were  ready. 
It  came  to  pais  at  a  time,  which  in  infinite  wiidom  was  the  molt 
fit  and  proper ;  Gal.  iv.  4,  ''  But  when  the  fulnefs  of  time  was 
come,  God  fent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  woman,  made  under 
the  law.'* 

It  was  now  the  moft  proper  time  on  every  account.  Any 
time  before  the  flood  would  not  have  been  fo  fit  a  time.  For 
then  the  mifchlef  and  ruin  that  the  fall  brought  on  mankind, 
was  not  fo  fully  feen.  The  curfe  did  not  fo  fully  come  on  the 
earth  before  the  flood,  as  it  did  afterwards  :  For  though  the 
ground  was  curfed  in  a  great  meafure  before,  yet  it  pleafed  God, 
that  the  curfe  fhould  once,  before  the  reftoration  by  Chrift,  be 
executed  in  an  univerfal  deftruftion,  as  it-  were,  of  the  very 
form  of  the  earth,  that  the  dire  effefts  of  the  fall  might  once  in 
fuch  a  way  be  feen  before  the  recovery  by  Chrift,  Though 
mankind  were  mortal  before  the  flood,  yet  their  lives  were  the 
greater  part  of  a  thoufand  years  in  length,  a  kind  of  immortality 
in  comparifon  with  what  the  life  of  man  is  now.  It  pleafed 
God,  that  that  curfe,  "  Duft  thou  art,  and  unto  duft  thou  fhalt 
return,"  (hould  have  its  full  accomplifhment,  and  be  executed 
in  its  greatefl  degree  on  mankind,  before  the  Redeemer  came  to 
purchafe  a  never  ending  life  for  man. 

It  would  not  have  been  fo  fit  a  time  for  Chrift  to  come,  after 
the  flood,  before  Mofes's  time  :  For  until  then  mankind  were 
not  fo  univerfally  apoftatized  from  the  true  God  ;  they  were  not 
fallen  univerfally  into  heathenifli  darknefs ;  and  fo  the  need  of 
Chrift,  the  light  of  the  world,  was  not  fo  evident :  And  the 
woful  confequence  of  the  fall  with  refpeft  to  man's  mortality, 
was  not  fo  fully  manifeft  until  then ;  for  man's  life  was  not  fo 
fhortened  as  to  be  reduced  to  the  prefent  ftandard  until  about 
Mofes's  time. 

It  was  moft  fit  that  the  time  of  the  Meffiah's  coming  fhould. 
not  be  until  many  ages  after  Mofes's  time  ;  until  all  nations,  but 
the  children  of  Ifrael,  had  lain  long  in  heathenifli  darknefs; 
that  the  remedilen"nefs  of  their  difeafe  might  by  long  experjence 
be  feen,  and  fo  the  abfolute  neceflity  of  the  heavenly  phyfician, 
before  he  came. 

Another  reafon  why  Chrift  did  not  come  foon  after  the  flood 

probably  was,  that  the  earth  might  be  full  of  people,  that  Chrift 

might  have  the  more  extenfive  kingdom,  and  that  the  eff'cfls  of 

his  light,  and  power,  and  grace,  might  be  glorified,  and  that  his 

X  vlftory 


170  A    II  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    iHE  Period  II. 

viflory  over  Satan  might  be  attended  with  the  more  glory  in 
the  multitude  of  his  conquefls.  It  was  alfo  needful  that  the 
coming  of  Chrid  fhould  be  many  ages  after  Mofcs,  that  the 
church  might  be  prepared  which  was  formed  by  Mofes  for  his 
coming,  by  the  MeiFiah's  being  long  prefigured,  and  by  his  being 
many  ways  foretold,  and  by  his  being  long  expected.  It  was 
not  proper  that  Chrift  fliould  come  before  the  Babylonifh  cap- 
tivity, becaufc  Satan's  kingdom  was  not  then  come  to  the  height. 
The  heathen  world  before  that  confided  of  lefl'cr  kingdoms. 
But  God  faw  meet  that  the  MefTiah  Ihould  come  in  the  time  of 
one  of  the  four  great  monarchies  of  the  world.  Nor  was  it 
proper  that  he  fhould  come  in  the  time  of  the  Babylonifh  mon- 
archy ;  for  it  was  God's  will,  that  feveral  general  monarchies 
fhould  follow  one  another,  and  that  the  coming  of  the  Mefliah 
fiiould  be  in  the  time  of  the  laft,'  which  appeared  above  them 
all.  The  Perfian  monarchy,  by  overcoming  the  Babylonian, 
appeared  above  it :  And  fo  the  Grecian,  by  overcoming  the 
Perfian,  appeared  above  that^  and  for  the  fame  reafon,  the 
Roman  above  the  Grecian,  Now  it  was  the  will  of  God,  that 
his  Son  fhould  make  his  appearance  in  the  world  in  the  time 
of  this  greatefl  and  ftrongell  monarchy,  which  was  Satan's  vif- 
ible  kingdom  in  the  world  ;  that,  by  overcoming  this,  he  might 
vifibly  overcome  Satan's  kingdom  in  its  greatefl  ftrength  and 
glory,  and  fo  obtain  the  more  complete  triumph  over  Satan 
liimfelf. 

It  was  not  proper  that  Chrifl  fhould  come  before  the  Baby- 
lonifh captivity.  For,  before  that,  we  have  not  hiftories  of  the 
ftatc  of  the  heathen  world,  to  give  us  an  idea  of  the  need  of  a 
Saviour.  And  befides,  before  that,  learning  did  not  much 
flourifh,  and  fo  there  had  not  been  an  opportunity  to  Ihow  the 
infufficiency  of  human  learning  and  wifdom  ta  reform  and  fave 
mankind.  Again,  before  that,  the  Jews  were  not  difperfed 
over  the  world,  as  they  wxre  afterwards ;  and  fo  things  were 
not'  prepared  in  this  refpeft  for  the  coming  of  Chiift.  The 
neceflity  of  abolifliing  the  Jewifh  difpenfation  was  not  then  fo 
apparent  as  it  was  afterwards,  by  reafon  of  the  difperfion  of  the 
Jews;  neither  was  the  way  prepared  for  the  propagation  of  the 
gofpel,  as  it  was  afterwards,  by  the  fame  difperfion.  Many 
Other  things  might  be  mentioned,  by  which  it  would  appear^ 
that  RO  other  time  before  that  very  time  in  which   Chrifl  did 

come^ 


Part  I.        WORK    of    REDE  M  P  T  I  O  N.  171 

come,  would   have  been  proper  for  his  appearing   in  the  world 
to  purchafe  the  redemption  of  men. 

III.  The  next  thing  that  I  would  obferve  cotjoeining  the 
incarnation  of  Chrilt,  is  the  greattiefs  of  this  event.  Chrift's 
incarnation  was  a  greater  and  more  wond«rful  thing  than 
ever  had  come  to  pafs ;  and  there  has  been  but  one  that 
has  ever  come  to  pafs  which  was  greater,  and  that  was  the  death 
of  Chrift,  which  was  afterwards.  But  Chrift's  incarnation  was 
a  greater  thing  than  had  ever  tome  to  pafs  before.  The  crea- 
tion of  the  world  was  a  very  great  thing,  but  not  fo  great  a  thing 
as  the  incarnation  of  Chrift.  U  was  a  great  thing  for  God  to 
make  the  creature,  but  ^lot  fo  great  as  for  Gpd,  as  for  the  Crea- 
tor himfelf,  to  become  a  creature.  We  have  fpoken  of  many 
great  things  that  were  accompliihed  from  one  age  to  another, 
in  the  ages  between  the  fall  of  man  and  the  incarnation  df 
Chrift :  But  God's  becoming  man  was  a  greater  thing  thaw 
they  all.  When  Chrift  was  born,  the  greatefl  perfon  was  born 
that  ever  was,  or  ever  will  be  born. 

IV.  What  I  would  next  obferve  concerning  the  incarnaticnri 
of  Chrift,  are  the  remarkable  circumftances  of  it  ;  iuch  as  his 
being  born  of  a  poor  virgin,  that  was  a  pious  holy  perfon,  but 
poor,  as  appeared  by  her  offering  at  her  purification  :  Luke  ii. 
24.  "  And  to  offer  a  facrifice  according  to  that  which  is  faid  in 
the  law  of  the  Lord,  A  pair  of  turtle  doves,  or  two  young  pig- 
eons." Which  refers  to  Lev.  %i>  7.  "  And  if  fiie  be  not  able 
to  bring  a  lamb,  then  fhe  fhall  bring  two  turtle  doves,  or  two 
young  pigeons.'*  And  this  poor  virgin  was  efpoufed  to  an  huf- 
band  who  was  a  poor  man.  Though  they  were  both  of  the 
royal  family  of  David,  the  mofl  honourable  family,  and  Jofeph 
was  the  rightful  heir  to  the  crown ;  yet  the  family  was  reduced 
to  a  very  low  ftate  ;  which  is  reprefented  by  the  tabernacle  of 
David's  being  fallen  or  broken  down,  Amos  ix.  11,  "  In  that 
day  will  I  raife  up  the  tabernacle  of  David  that  is  fallen,  and 
clofc  up  the  breaches  thereof,  and  I  will  raife  up  his  ruins,  and 
I  will  build  it  as  in  the  days  of  old." 

He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  as  was  foretold : 
And  there  was  a  very  remarkable  providence  of  God  to  bring 
about  the  fulfilment  of  this  prophecy,  the  taxing  of  all  the 
world  by  Auguftus  Cefar,  as  in  Luke  ii.  He  was  \Mt5  born  in 
a  very  low  condition,  even  in  a  ftable,  and  laid  in  a  manger. 

V,  I 


ija  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  II. 

Vo  I  would  obferve  the  concomitants  of  this   great  event,  or 

the  remarkable  events  with  which  it  was  attended And, 

1.  The  firft  thing  I  would  take   notice   of  that  attended   the 
incarnation  of  Chrift,  was  the  return  of  the   Spirit  ;  which  in- 
deed began  a  little  before  the  incarnation  of  Chrift;  but  yet  was 
given  on  occafion  of  that,   as  it  was  to  reveal  either  his  birth, 
or  the  birth  of  his  forerunner  John  the  Baptift.     I  have  before 
obferved   how  the  fpirit  of  prophecy  ceafed   not  long  after  the 
book  of  ,Malachi  was  written.     From  about  the  fame  time   vif- 
ions   and  immediate  revelations  ceafed  alfo.     But  now,  on  this 
occafion,  they  are  granted  anew,  and  the  Spirit  in  thefe  opera- 
tions returns  again.     The  firft  inftance  of    its  reftoration  thiat 
we  have  any  account  of  is  in  the  vifion  of  Zacharias,  the  father 
of  John  the  Baptift;  which  we  read  of  in  the    ift  chapter  of 
Luke.     The  next  is  in  the  vifion  which  the  Virgin  Mary  had, 
of  which  we  read   alfo  in  the  fame  chapter.     The  third  is  in 
the  vifiion  which  Jofeph  had,  of  which  we  read  in  the  ift  chap- 
ter of  Matthew.     In   the  next  place,  the  Spirit  was  given  to 
Elifabeth,  Luke  i.  41,     Next,  it  was  given  to  Mary,  as  appears 
by  her  fong,  Luke  i.  46.  &c.     Then  to   Zachariah  again,  il>id. 
ver.  64.     Then  it  was  fent  to  the  fhepherds,  of  which  we  have 
an  account  in  Luke  ii.  g.     Then  it  was  given  to  Simeon,  Luke 
ii.  25,     Then   to  Anna,  ver.  36.     Then  to  the  wife  men  in  the 
eaft.     Then  to  Jofeph  again,  direding  him  to  flee  into   Egypt, 
and  after  that  direfting  his  return. 

2.  The  next  concomitant  of  Chrift's  incarnation  that  I  would 
obferve  is,  the  great  notice  that  was  taken  of  it  in  heaven,  and 
on  earth.  How  it  was  noticed  by  the  glorious  inhabitants  of 
the  heavenly  world,  appears  by  their  joyful  fongs  on  this  occa- 
fion, heard  by  the  fhepherds  in  the  night.  This  was  the  great- 
eft  event  of  Providence  that  ever  the  angels  had  beheld.  Wc 
read  of  their  fmging  praifes  when  they  faw  the  formation  of  this 
lower  world :  Job  xxxviii.  7.  "  When  the  morning  ftars  fang 
together,  and  all  the  fons  of  God  fhouted  for  joy."  And  as 
they  fang  praifes  then,  fo  they  do  now,  on  this  much  greater 
occafion,  of  the  birth  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  is  the  Creator  of 
the  world. 

The  glorious  angels  had  all  along  expefi;ed  this  event.  They 
had  taken  great  notice  of  the  prophecies  and  promifes  of  thefe 
things  all  along  :  For  we  are  told,  that  the  angels  defire  to  look 
into  the  affairs  of  redemption,  1  Pet.  i.  1 2.     They  had  all  along 

bee 


PartL         WO  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  PTIO  N.  173 

been  the  miniflcrs  of  Chrifl  in  this  affair  of  redemption,  in  ail 
the  feveral  fleps  of  it  down  from  the  very  fall  of  man.  So  we 
read,  that  they  were  employed  in  God's  dealings  with  Abraham, 
and  in  his  dealings  with  Jacob,  and  in  his  dealings  with  the  li- 
raelites  from  time  to  time.  And  doubtlefs  they  had  long  joy- 
fully expefted  the  coming  of  Chrift  ;  but  now  they  fee  it  ac* 
complilhed,  and  therefore  greatly  rejoice,  and  ling  praifes  on 
this  occalion. 

Notice  was  taken  of  it  by  fome  among  the  Jews  ;  as  particu- 
larly by  Elifabeth  and  the  Virgin  Mary  before  the  birth  of 
Chrifl  ;  not  to  fay  by  John  the  Baptift  before  he  was  born, 
when  he  leaped  in  his  mother's  womb  as  it  were  for  joy,  at  the 
voice  of  the  falutation  of  Mary,  But  Elifabeth  and  Mary  do 
mofl  joyfully  praife  God  together,  when  they  meet  with  Chrifl 
and  his  forerunner  in  their  wombs,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  in  their 
fouls.  And  afterwards  what  joyful  notice  is  taken  of  this  event 
by  the  fbepherds,  and  by  thofe  holy  perfons  Zacharias,  and 
Simeon,  and  Anna  !  How  do  they  praife  God  on  thisoccafion  ! 
Thus  the  church  of  God  in  heaven,  and  the  church  on  earth, 
do  as  it  were  unite  in  their  joy  and  praife  on  this  occafion. 

Notice  was  taken  of  it  by  the  Gentiles,  which  appears  in  the 
wife  men  of  the  eafh  Great  part  of  the  univerfe  does  as  it 
were  take  a  joyful  notice  of  the  incarnation  of  Chrifl,  Heaven 
takes  notice  of  it,  and  the  inhabitants  fing  for  joy.  This  lower 
world,  the  world  of  mankind,  does  alfo  take  notice  of  it  in  both 
parts  of  it,  Jews  and  Gentiles.  It  pleafed  God  to  put  honour 
on  his  Son,  by  wonderfully  flirring  up  fome  of  the  wifeft  of  the 
Gentiles  to  come  a  long  journey  to  fee  and  worfhip  the  Son  of 
God  at  his  birth,  being  led  by  a  miraculous  flar,  fignifying  the 
birth  of  that  glorious  perfon,  who  is  the  bright  and  morning 
flar,  going  before,  and  leading  them  to  the  very  place  where 
the  young  child  was.  Some  think  they  were  inflrufted  by  the 
prophecy  of  Balaam,  who  dwelt  in  the  eaflern  parts,  and  fore- 
told Chrifl's  coming  as  a  flar  that  fhould  rife  out  of  Jacob.  Or 
they  might  be  inllrufted  by  that  general  expectation  there  was 
of  the  Meffiah's  coming  about  that  time,  before  fpoken  of,  from 
the  notice  they  had  of  it  by  the  prophecies  the  Jews  had  of  him 
in  their  difperfions  in  all  parts  of  the  world  at  that  time, 

3.  The  next  concomitant  of  the  birth  of  Chrifl  was  his  cir- 
cumcifion.  But  this  may  more  properly  be  fpoken  of  under 
another  head,  and  fo  1  will  not  infifl  upon  it  now, 

4.  The 


,74  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  11. 

4.  The  next  concomitant  was  his  fiifl  coming  into  the  fecond 
temple,  which  was  his  being  brought  thither  when  an  infant,  on 
occafion  of  the  purification  of  the  blefled  virgin.  We  read, 
Haa.  ii.  7.  "  The  defire  of  all  nations  fhall  come,  and  I  will 
fill  this  houfe  (or  temple)  with  glory."  And  in  Mai.  iii,  t, 
"  The  Lord,  whom  ye  feek,  fhall  fuddenly  come  to  his  temple, 
even  the  meffenger  of  the  covenant."  And  now  was  the  firft 
in  fiance  of  the  fulfilment  of  thefe  prophecies. 

5.  The  laft  concomitant  I  fhall  mention  is  the  fceptre's  de- 
parting from  Judah,  in  the  death  of  Herod  the  Great.  The 
fceptre  had  never  totally  departed  from  Judah  until  now.  Ju- 
dah's  fceptre  was  greatly  diminiflied  in  the  revolt  of  the  ten 
tribes  in  Jeroboam's  time  ;  and  the  fceptre  departed  from  Ifrael 
or  Ephraim  at  the  time  of  the  captivity  of  the  ten  tribes  by 
Shalmanefer.  But  yet  the  fceptre  remained  in  the  tribe  of  Ju- 
dah, under  the  kin^s  of  the  houfe  of  David.  And  when  the 
tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin  were  carried  captive  by  Nebu- 
chadnezzar, the  fceptre  of  Judah  ceafed  for  a  little  while,  until 
the  return  from  the  captivity  under  Cyrus  :  And  then,  though 
they  were  not  an  independent  government,  as  they  had  been  be- 
fore, but  owed  fealty  to  the  kings  of  Perfia  ;  yet  their  gover- 
nour  was  of  themlelves,  who  had  the  power  of  life  and  death, 
arid  they  were  governed  by  their  own  laws  ;  and  fo  Judah  had 
a  lawgiver  from  between  his  feet  during  the  Perfian  and  Grecian 
monarchies.  Towards  the  latter  part  of  the  Grecian  monarchy, 
the  people  were  governed  by  kings  of  their  own,  of  the  race  of 
the  Maccabees,  for  the  greater  part  of  an  hundred  years  ;  and  af- 
ter that  they  were  fubducd  by  the  Romans,  But  yet  the  Ro- 
mans fufFered  them  to  be  governed  by  their  own  laws,  and  to 
have  a  king  of  their  own,  Herod  the  Great,  who  reigned  about 
forty  years,  and  governed  with  proper  kingly  authority,  only 
paying  homage  to  the  Romans.  But  prefently  after  Chrift  was 
born  ke  died,  as  we  have  an  account,  Matth.  ii.  19.  and  Arche- 
laus  fucceeded  him  ;  but  was  foon  put  down  by  the  Roman 
Emperor  ;  and  then  the  fceptre  departed  from  Judah.  There 
were  no  more  temporal  kings  of  Judah  after  that,  neither  had 
that  people  their  governours  from  the  rnidfl  of  themfelves  after 
that,  but  were  ruled  by  a  Roman  governour  fent  among  them  ; 
and  they  ceafed  any  more  to  have  the  power  of  life  and  death 
Anong  themfelvcf.     Hence  the  Jews  fay  to  Pilate,  "  It  is  not 

lawful 


Part  11.        WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         175 

lawful  for  us  to  put  any  man  to  death."  John  xviii.  31.     Thus 
the  fceptre  departed  from  Judah  when  Shiloh  came. 

Part       II. 

HAVING  thus  confidered  Chrift's  coming  into  the  world, 
and  his  taking  on  him  our  nature,  to  put  himlelf  in  a  capacity 
for  the  purchafe  of  redemption,  I  come  now,  Secondly,  to  fpeak 
of  the  purchafe  itfelf. And  in  fpeaking  of  this,  I  would, 

1.  Show  what  is  intended  by  the  purchafe  of  redemption. 

2.  Obferve  fome  things  in  general  concerning  thofe  things  by 
which  this  purchafe  was  made. 

3.  I  would  orderly  conhder  thofe  things  which  Chrift  did  and 
fuffered,  by  which  that  purchafe  was  made. 

ScEf.ion    I. 

1  WOULD  fhow  what  is  here  intended  by  Chrifl's  purchafing 
redemption.  And  there  are  two  things  that  are  intended  by  it, 
viz,  his  fatisfaftion,  and  his  merit.  All  is  done  by  the  price 
that  Chrift  lays  down.  But  the  price  that  Chrift  laid  down 
does  two  things  :  It  pays  our  debt,  and  fo  \t  fatisjies  :  By  its  in*- 
trinfick  value,  and  by  the  agreement  between  the  Father  and  the 
Son,  it  procures  a  title  to  us  for  happinefs,  and  fo  it  merits.  The 
fatisfaftion  of  Chrift  is  to  free  us  from  mifery,  and  the  merit  of 
Chrift  is  to  purchafe  happinefs  for  us. 

The  word  purchafe,  as  it  is  ufed  with  rcfpc£t  to  the  purchafe 
of  Chrift,  is  taken  either  more  ftriftly  or  more  largely.  It  is 
oftentimes  ufed  more  ftriftly,  to  fignify  only  the  merit  of  Chrift; 
and  fometimes  more  largely,  to  fignify  both  his  fatisfa£lion  and 
merit.  Indeed  moft  of  the  words  which  are  ufed  in  this  affair 
have  various  hgnifications.  Thus  fometimes  divines  ufe  merit 
in  this  affair  for  the  whole  price  that  Chrift  offered,  both  fatif- 
faftory,  and  alfo  pofitively  meritorious.  And  fo  the  word  fat^ 
isfaElion  is  fometimes  ufed,  not  only  for  his  propitiation,  but  alfo 
for  his  meritorious  obedience.  For  in  fome  fenfe,  not  only  fuf- 
fering  the  penalty,  but  pofitively  obeying,  is' needful  to  fat  is  fy 
the  law.  The  reafon  of  this  various  ufe  of  thefe  terms  feems  to 
he,   that  fatisfaftion  and  merit  do  not  d'ffer  fo  much  really  a?. 

relatively. 


i;^  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    of  the  Period  IL 

relatively.  They  both  confift  in  paying  a  valuable  price,  a  price 
of  infinite  value  ;  but  only  that  price,  as  it  refpefts  a  debt  to  be 
paid,  is  called  fdisfaElion  ;  and  as  it  relpefts  a  pofitive  good  to 
be  obtained,  is  called  merit.  The  difference  between  paying  a 
debt,  and  making  a  pofitive  purchale  is  more  relative  than  it  is 
clfcntial.  He  who  lays  down  a  price  to  pay  a  debt,  does  in  fomc 
fenfe  make  a  purchafe  :  He  purchafes  liberty  from  the  obliga- 
tion. And  he  who  lays  down  a  price  to  purchafe  a  good,  does 
as  it  were  make  fatisfa6lion  :  He  fatisfies  the  conditional  de- 
mands of  him  to  whom  he  pays  it.  This  may  fuffice  concerning 
what  is  meant  by  the  purchafe  of  Chrift. 

StBion    n. 

I  NOW  proceed  to  fome  general  obfervations  concerning  thofc 
things  by  which  this  purchafe  was  made. :And  here, 

1.  I  would  obferve,  that  whatever  in  Chrift  had  the  nature  of 
fatisfaftion,  it  was  by  virtue  of  the  fuffering  or  humiliation  that 
was  in  it.  But  whatever  had  the  nature  of  merit,  it  was  by  vir- 
tue of  the  obedience  or  righteoufnefs  there  was  in  it.  The  fat- 
isfaflion  of  Chrift  confifts  in  his  asfwering  the  demands  of  the 
law  on  man,  which  were  confequent  on  the  breach  of  the  law. 
Thefe  were  anfwered  by  fuffering  the  penalty  of  the  law.  The 
merit  of  Chrift  confifts  in  what  he  did  to  anfwer  the  demands 
of  the  law,  wdrich  were  prior  to  man's  breach  of  the  law,  or  to 
fulfil  what  the  law  demanded  before  mah  finned,  which  was 
obedience. 

The  fatisfaftion  or  propitiation  of  Chrift  confifts  either  in  his 
fuff'ering  evil,  or  his  being  fubjeft  to  abafement.  For  Chrift  did 
not  only  make  fatisfa£lion  by  proper  fuffering,  but  by  whatever 
had  the  nature  of  humiliation,  and  abaiement  of  circumftances. 
Thus  Chrift  made  fatisfaftion  for  fin,  by  continuing  under  the 
power  of  death,  while  he  lay  buried  in  the  grave,  though  nei- 
ther his  body  nor  foul  properly  endured  any  fuffering  after  he 
was  dead.  Whatever  Chrift  was  fubjeft  to  that  was  the  judicial 
fruit  of  ftn,  had  the  nature  of  fatisfadion  for  fin.  But  not  only 
proper  fuffering,  but  all  abafement  and  deprefllon  of  the  ftate 
and  circurnftances  of  mankind  below  its  primitive  honour  and 
dignity,  fuch  as  his  body's  remaining  under  death,  and  body 
and  foul  remaining  feparate,  and  other  things  that  might  be  men- 
tioned, are  the  judicial  fruits  of  fm.     And  all  that  Chrift  did  in 

his 


Fart  II.  2*      W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.        177 

his  ftate  of  humiliation,  that  had  the  nature  of  obedience  or 
moral  virtue  or  goodnefs  in  it,  in  one  refpeft  or  another  had  the 
nature  of  merit  in  it,  and  was  part  of  the  price  with  which  he 
purchafed  happinefs  for  the  elcft. 

2.  I  would  obferve,  that  bmh  Chrifl's  fatisfaftion  for  fin,  and 
alfo  his  meriting  happinefs  by  his  righteoufnefs,  were  carried  on 
through  the  whole  time  of  his  humiliation.  Chrifl's  fatisfaftion 
for  fin  was  not  only  by  his  laft  fufferings,  though  it  was  princi- 
pally by  them  ;  but  all  his  fufferings,  and  all  the  humiliation 
that  he  was  fubjeft  to  from  the  firfl  moment  of  his  incarnation 
to  his  refurreftion,  were  propitiatory  or  fatisfa6tory.  Chrifl's 
fatisfaction  was  chiefly  by  his  death,  becaufe  his  fufferings  and 
humiliation  in  that  was  greatefl.  But  all  his  other  fufferings, 
and  all  his  other  humiliation,  all  along  had  the  nature  of  fatis- 
fa6lion.  So  had  the  mean  eircumflances  in  which  he  was  born. 
His  being  born  in  fuch  a  low  condition,  was  to  make  fatisfac- 
tion for  fin.  His  being  born  of  a  poor  virgin,  in  a  flable,  and 
his  being  laid  in  a  manger  ;  his  taking  the  human  nature  upon 
him  in  its  low  flate,  and  under  thofe  infirmities  brought  upon  it 
by  the  fall ;  his  being  born  in  the  form  of  finful  flefh,  had  the 
nature  of  fatisfaflion.  And  fo  all  his  fufferings  in  his  infancy 
and  childhood,  and  all  that  labour,  and  contempt,  and  reproach^ 
and  temptation,  and  difficulty  of  any  kind,  or  that  he  fuffered 
through  the  whole  courfe  of  his  life,  was  of  a  propitiatory  and 
fatisfa6lory  nature. 

And  fo  his  purchafe  of  happinefs  by  his  righteoufnefs  was 
alfo  carried  on  through  the  whole  time  of  his  humiliation  until 
his  refurreclion ;  not  only  in  that  obedience  he  performed 
through  the  courfe  of  his  life,  but  alfo  in  the  obedience  he  per- 
formed in  laying  down  his  life. 

3,  It  was  by  the  fame  things  that  Chrifl  hath  fatisfied  God's 
juflice,  tnd  alfo  purchafed  eternal  happinefs.  This  fatisfaftion 
and  purchafe  of  Chrifl  were  not  only  both  carried  on  through 
the  whole  time  of  Chrifl's  humiliation,  but  they  were  both  car- 
ried on  by  the  fame  things.  He  did  not  make  fatisfaflion  by 
fome  things  that  he  did,  and  then  v/ork  out  a  righteoufnefs.  by 
other  different  things  ;  but  in  the  fame  afts  by  which  he  wrought 
out  righteoufnefs,  he  alfo  made  fatisfadion,  but  only  taken  in  a 
different  relation.  One  and  the  fame  aft  of  Chrifl,  confidered 
with  refpefl:  to  the  obedience  there  was  in  it,  was  part  of  his 
righteoufnefs,  and  purchafed  heaven  :  But  confidered  with  re- 

V  ■  fpeJ 


:a 


i78  A    HISTORY    of  the  Period  II. 

fped  to  the  felf  denial,   and  difficulty,  and   humiliation,  with 
which  he   performed  it,  had  the  nature  of  fatisfaftlon  for  fin, 
and  procured  our  pardon.     Thus  his  going  about  doing  good, 
preaching  the  gofpel,  and  teaching  his  difciples,  was  a   part  of 
his   righteoufnef^,   and  purchafe  ofheaven,  as  it   was  done  in 
obedience  to  the  Father :  and  the  fame  was  a  part  of  his   fatis- 
faftion,  as  he  did  it   with   great  labour,  trouble,    and  wearinefs^ 
and  under  great   temptations,   expofing  himfelf  hereby  to   ren 
proach  and  contempt.     So  his  laying  down  his  life  had  the  na- 
ture of  fatisfaftion  to  God's  offended  juftice,   confidered  as  hi$ 
bearing  our  punifhment  in  our  ftead  :  But  confidered  as  an  aft 
of  obedience  to  God,  who  had  given  him  this  command,  that 
he  fiiould  lay  down   his  life  for  linneis,  it  was  a  part  of  his 
Tighteoufnefsj  and  purchafe  of  heaven,  and  as  much  the  princi-v 
pal  part  of  his  righteoufnefs  as  it  was   the  principal  part  of  his 
fatisfaftion.     And   fo  to  inftance  in  his  circumcifion,  what  he 
fuffered  in  that,  had  the  nature  of  fatisfaftion  ;  The  blood  that 
was  flied  in   his  circumcifion  was  propitiatory  blood  ;  but  as  it 
was  a  conformity  to  the  law  of  Mofes,  it  was  part  of  his  meri- 
torious righteoufnefs.     Though  it  was  not  properly  the  aft  of 
his  human   nature,  he  being  an  infant ;  yet   it  being  what  the 
human  nature  was  the  fubjeft  of,  and  being  the  aft  of  that  per- 
fon,  it  was  accepted  as  an  aft  of  his  obedience,  as  our  Mediator. 

And  fo  even  his  being  born  in  fuch  a  low  condition,  had  the 
nature  of  fiatisfaftion,  by  reafon  of  the  humiliation  that  was  in 
it,  and  alfo  of  righteoufnefs,  as  it  was  the  aft  of  his  perfon  in 
obedience  to  the  Father,  and  what  the  human  nature  was  the 
fubjeft  of,  and  what  the  will  of  the  human  nature  did  acquiefcc 
in,  though  there  was  no  aft  of  the  will  of  the  human  nature 
prior  to  it, 

Thefe  things  may  fuffice  to  have  obferved  in  the  general  con- 
cerning the  purchafe  Chrift  made  of  redemption, 

SeBion  III. 

2  Kow  proceed  to  fpeak  more  particularly  of  thofe  things 
tvhich  Chrift  did,  and  was  the  fubjedl  of,  during  the  time  of  his 
humiliation,  whereby  this  purchafe  was  made,- And  the  na- 
ture of  the  purchafe  of  Chrift,  as  it  has  been  explained,  leads 
US  to  conlider  thefe  things  under  a  twofold  view,  viz. 

*•  With  rcfpeft  t9  his  r%hUQufnefi^  which  appeared  in  them, 

2,  Witk 


■:^ 


PartII.3.      WORK    of    REDEMP-XtON.        jjfj 

2.  With  refpeft  to  the  fuffcrin^s  and  kuiniliaUo^  tlj^t ,  he  ^;y as 
Cubjcd  to  in  them  in  our  ftead,  '    •      .    -  ., 

^  I.  I  will  confider  the  things  that  pafTed  di^ring  the  time  of 
Chrift's  humiliation,  with  refpeft  to  the  okdUnce  and  rigkteoufyefs 
that  he  exercifed  in  the;n.  And  this  is  fubjc£l  to  a  tljireefpltl 
diflribution.     I  fliall  therefore  conftder  his  obedientje, 

1.  With  refpeft  to  the  laws  which  he  pbeyed. 

2.  With  refped  to  the  difermt  Jlages  oj  hU  /j/fi  .in  which  hf 
performed  it. 

3.  With  rcfpeft  to  the  virtues  fps  exercifed  in  his  obedience, 

I,  The  lirfl  diflribution  of  the  a£ls  of  Chrift's  rlghtcoufnef^ 
is  with  refpefl  to  the  laws  which  Chrifi  obeyed  in  that  righteouf- 
nefs  which  he  performed.  But  here  it  mull  be  obferved  in  genr 
cral,  that  all  the  precepts  which  Chrill  obeyed  may  be  reduced 
to  one,  law,  and  that  is  that  which  the  Apoftle  calls  the  law  of 
,ju)orks,  Rom.  iii.  27,  Every  command  that  Chrift  obeyed  may  be 
reduced  to  that  great  and  eyerlafting  law  of  Gpd  that  i$  contain- 
ed in  the  covenant  of  works,  that  eternal  riale  of  right  which 
God  had  eftablilhed  between  himfelf  and  mankind,  Chrift 
^ame  into  the  world  to  fulfil  and  anfwer  the  covenant  of  works  ; 
that  is,  the  covenant  that  is  to  ftand  for  ever  a$  ^  rule  of  judg- 
ment ;  and  that  is  the  covenant  that  we  had  broken,  and  that 
was  the  covenant  that  mult  be  fulfilled. 

This  law  of  works  indeed  injjludes  all  the  laws  of  God  which 
ever  have  been  given  to  mankind  ;  for  it  is  a  general  rule  of 
the  law  of  works,  and  indeed  of  the  law  pf  nature,  That  fSod 
is  to  be  obeyed,  and  that  he  muft  be  fubmitted  to  in  whatever 
pofitive  precept  he  is  pleafed  to  give  us.  It  is  a  rule  of  thc 
law  of  works,  That  men  fliould  obey  their  earthly  parents: 
And  it  is  certainly  as  much  a  rule  of  the  fame  law,  That  w# 
fhould  obey  pur  heavenly  Father ;  And  fo  the  law  of  works 
requires  obedience  to  all  pofjtiye  commands  of  Qod.  It  re- 
quired Adam's  obedience  to  that  pofitive  command.  Not  to  e^t 
of  the  forbidden  fruit ;  and  it  required  obedience  of  the  Jews 
to  all  the  pofitive  commands  of  their  inftitution,  WHfen  God 
commanded  Jonah  to  arife  and  go  to  Nineveh,  the  law  of  works 
required  him  to  obey  :  And  fo  it  required  Chrift's  obedience 
to  all  the  pofitive  com^jiands  which  Gpd  gave  him* 


V8o  A    HISTORY    of  the  Period  IL 

But,  more  particularly,  the  commands  of  God  which  Chrijl  obeyed, 
x^re  of  three  kinds  ;  they  were  either  fuch  as  he  was  fubjeft  to 
merely  as  man,  or  fuch  as  he  was  fubjeft  to  as  he  zvas  a  J'ew,  or 
Hich  as  he  was  fubjeft  to  purely  as  Mediator. 

1 .  He  obeyed  thofe  commands  which  he  was  fubjcft  to  mere- 
ly as  man:  And  they  were  the  commands  of  the  moral  law, 
which  was  the  fame  with  that  which  was  given  at  Mount  Sinai, 
written  in  two  tables  of  ftone,  which  are  obligatory  on  man- 
kind of  all  nations  and  all  ages  of  the  world. 

2.  He  obeyed  all  thofe  laws  he  was  fubjeft  to  as  he  was  a  Jew, 
Thus  he  was  fubjeft  to  the  ceremonial  law,  and  was  conformed 
to  it.  He  was  conformed  to  it  in  his  being  circumcifed  the 
eighth  day  ;  and  he  flriftly  obeyed  it  in  going  up  to  Jerufalem 
to  the  temple  three  times  a  year  ;  at  leail  after  he  was  come  to 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  which  feems  to  have  been  the  age 
when  the  males  began  to  go  up  to  the  temple.  And  fo  Chrift 
conftantly  attended  the  fervice  of  the  temple,  and  of  the  fyn- 
agogues. 

Te  this  head  of  his  obedience  to  the  law  that  he  was  fubjeft 
to  as  a  Jew,  may  be  reduced  his  fubmilTion  to  John's  baptifm. 
For  it  was  a  fpecial  command  to  the  Jews,  to  go  forth  to  John 
the  Baptift,  and  be  baptized  of  him  ;  and  therefore  Chrift  be- 
ing a  Jew,  was  fubjeft  to  this  command  ;  And  therefore,  when 
he  came  to  be  baptized  of  John,  and  John  objcfted,  that  he  had 
more  need  to  come  to  him  to  be  baptized  of  him,  he  gives  this 
reafon  for  it,  That  it  was  needful  that  he  fhould  do  it,  that  he 
might  fulfil  all  righteoufnefs.     See  Matth.  iii.  13,  14,  15. 

3.  Another  law  that  Chrift  was  fubjefl  to  was  the  mediatorial 
law,  which  contained  thofe  commands  of  God  to  which  he  was 
fubjeft,  not  merely  as  man,  nor  yet  as  a  Jew,  but  which  relat- 
ed purely  to  his  mediatorial  office.  Such  were  the  commands 
which  the  Father  gave  him,  to  teach  futh  doflrines,  to  preach 
the  gofpel,  to  work  fi;ch  miracles,  to  call  fuch  difciples,  to  ap- 
point fuch  ordinances,  and  finally  to  lay  down  his  life  :  For  he 
did  all  thefe  things  in  obedience  to  commands  he  had  received 
of  the  Father,  as  he  often  tells  us.  And  thefe  commands  he 
was  notTubje6l  to  merely  as  man  ;  for  they  did  not  belong  to 
other  rn en  :  Nor  yet  was  he  fubjeft  to  them  as  a  Jew  ;  for  they 
were  no  part  of  the  Mofaick  law  ;  but  they  were  commands 
that  he  had  received  of  the  Father,  that  purely  refpe£led  the 
work  he  was  to  do  in  the  world  in  his  mediatorial  office. 

And 


Part  II.  3.     WORK    of    REDE  M  P  T  I  O  N.         181 

And  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  Chrift's  righteoufnefs,  by  which 
he  merited  heaven  for  himfelf,  and  all  who  believe  in  him,  coa- 
fills  principally  in  his  obedience  to  this  mediatorial  law  ;  For 
in  fulfilling  this  law  confilled  his  chief  work' and  buf.nels  in  tlie 
world.  Tlie  hiHory  of  the  evangelifts  is  chiefly  taken  up  in 
giving  an  account  of  his  obedience  to  this  law  :  And  this  part 
of  his  obedience  was  that  which  was  attended  with  the  greatefl 
difficulty  of  all  ;  and  therefore  his  obedience  in  it  was  moft 
meritorious.  What  Chrid  had  to  do  in  the  world  by  virtue  of 
his  being  Mediator,  was  infinitely  more  difficult  than  what  he 
had  to  do  merely  as  a  man,  or  as  a  Jew.  To  his  obedience  to 
this  mediatorial  law  belongs  his  going  through  his  laft  fufferings, 
beginning  with  his  agony  in  the  garden,  and  ending  with  his 
refurreflion. 

As  the  obedience  of  the  firfl  Adam^  wherein  his  righteoufnefs 
would  have  confided,  if  he  had  flood,  would  have  mainly  con- 
fided, not  in  his  obedience  to  the  moral  law,  to  which  he  was 
fubjetl  merely  as  man,  but  in  his  obedience  to  that  fpccial  law 
that  he  was  fubjecl  to  as  moral  head  and  furety  of  mankind, 
even  the  command  of  abdaining  from  the  tree  of  knowledge  of 
good  and  evil  ;  fo  the  obedience  of  the  fccond  Adam,  wherein 
his  righteoufnefs  confids,  lies  mainly,  not  in  his  obedience  to  the 
law  that  he  was  fubjeft  to  merely  as  man,'  but  to  that  fpecial  law 
which  he  was  fubjc6l  to  in  his  office  as  Mediator  and  furetv  for 
man. 

Before  I  proceed  to  the  next  didribution  of  Chrid's  righte- 
oufnefs, I  would  obferve  three  things  concerning  Chrid's  obe- 
dience to  thefe  laws. 

1.  He  performed  that  obedience  to -them  which  was  in  every 
refpe6l  perJeSi.  It  was  univerfal  as  to  the  kinds  of  laws  that  he 
was  fubjeft  to  ;  he  obeyed  each  of  thefe  three  laws  ;  and  it  was 
univerfal  with  refpeft  to  every  individual  precept  contained  in 
thefe  laws,  and  it  was  perfetl  as  to  each  command.  It  was  per- 
fe6l  as  to  pofitix^e  tranfgreffions  avoided  :  For  he  never  tranf- 
greded  in  one  indance  ;  he  was  guilty  of  no  fin  of  commilTion. 
And  it  was  perfe£l  with  refpett  to  the  work  commanded  :  He 
perfefted  the  whole  work  that  each  command  required,  and 
never  was  guilty  of  any  fin  of  omiffion.  And  it  was  perfeft 
with  refped  to  the  principle  from  which  he  obeyed  :  His  heart 
was  perfeft,  his  principles  were  wholly  right,  there  was  no  cor- 
ruption  in  his  heart.    And  it  was  p^rfetl  with  rcfpcft  to  tKc 

ends 


i82  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    THE  Periodic 

ends  he  aSledTor  :  For  he  never  had  any  by  ends,  but  aimed 
perfe6lly  at  fuch  ends  as  the  law  of  God  requued.  And  it  was 
perfeft  with  refpeft  to  the  manner  of  performance  :  Every  cir- 
cum fiance  of  each  a£b  was  perfeftly  conformed  to  the  command. 
And  it  was  perfe6l  with  refpe6t  to  the  degree  of  the  perform- 
ance :  He  a6led  wholly  up  to  the  rule.  And  it  was  perfeft  with 
refped  to  the  conftancy  of  obedience  :  He  did  not  only  perfeft- 
ly  obey  fometimes,  but  conftantly  without  any  interruption. 
And  it  was  perfect;  with  refpedt  to  perfeverance  :  He  held  out 
in  perfeft  obedience  to  the  very  end,  through  all  the  changes  he 
palled  through,  and  all  the  trials  that  were  before  him. 

The  meritorioufnefs  of  Chriil's  obedience,  depends  on  the 
perfeftion  of  it.  If  it  had  failed  in  any  inftance  of  perfeftion, 
it  could  not  have  been  meritorious  :  For  imperfeft  obedieRce  is 
not  accepted  as  any  obedience  at  all  in  the  fight  of  the  law  of 
works,  which  was  that  law  that  Chrift  was  fubjeft  to  ;  for  that 
is  not  accepted  as  an  obedience  to  a  law  that  does  not  anfwer 
that  law. 

2,  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve  of  Chrifl's  obedience  is, 
that  it  was  performed  through  the  greatefl  trials  and  temptations 
that  ever  any  obedience  was.  His  obedience  was  attended  with 
the  greatefl  difEcultics,  and  moll  extreme  abafement  and  fuHer- 
ings  that  ever  any  obedience  was  ;  which  was  another  thing 
that  rendered  it  more  meritorious  and  thankworthy.  To  obey 
another  when  his  commands  arc  eafy,  is  not  fo  worthy,  as  it  is 
to  obey  when  it  cannot  be  done  without  great  difnculty. 

3,  He  performed  this  obedience  with  infinite  refpeft  to  God, 
and  the  honour  of  his  law..  The  obedience  he  performed  was 
with  infinitely  greater  love  to  God,  and  regard  to  his  authority, 
than  the  angels  perform  their  obedience  with.  The  angels  per- 
form their  obedience  with  that  love  which  is  perfeft,  with  fin- 
lefs  perfection  :  But  Chrifl  did  not  do  fo,  but  he  performed  his 
obedience  with  much  greater  love  than  the  angels  do  theirs, 
even  infinite  love  ;  for  though  the  human  nature  of  Chrift  was 
not  capable  of  love  abfolutely  infinite,  yet  Chrifl's  obedience 
that  was  performed  in  that  human  nature,  is  not  to  be  looked 
wpon  as  merely  the  obedience  of  the  human  nature,  but  the  obe- 
dience of  his  perfon,  as  Godman  ;  and  there  was  infinite  love 
of  the  perfon  of  Chrifl.  manifefl  in  that  obedience.  And  this, 
together  with  the  infinite  dignity  of  the  perfon  that  obeyed,  ren- 
«lered  his  obedience  infinitely  meritorious, 

II.  The 


fart  II.  3.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        1^ 

II.  The  fecond  diftribution  of  the  a6ls  of  Chrifl's  obedience, 
is  with  refpeft  to  the  different  parts  of  his  life,  wherein  they  were 
performed.  And  in  this  rcfpcCl  they  may  be  divided  into  thofe 
which  were  performed  in  private  life,  and  thofe  which  wers 
performed  in  his  publick  miniftry, 

iji,  Thofe  afts  he  performed  during  his  private  life.  He  was 
perfeclly  obedient  in  his  childhood.  He  infinitely  difFered  from 
other  children,  who,  as  loon  as  they  begin  to  aft,  begin  to  fm 
and  rebel.  He  was  fubject  to  his  earthly  parents,  though  he 
"was  Lord  of  all,  Luke  ii,  ,51.  He  was  found  about  his  Father'* 
bufmefs  at  twelve  years  of  age  in  the  temple,  Luke  ii.  42.  He 
then  began  that  work  that  he  had  to  do  in  fulfilment  of  the  me- 
diatorial law,  which  the  Father  had  given  him.  He  continued 
his  private  life  for  about  thirty  years,  dwelling  at  Nazareth  in 
the  houfe  of  his  reputed  father  Jofeph,  where  he  ferved  God  in 
a  private  capacity,  and  in  foUowirig  a  mechanical  trade,  the 
bufmefs  of  a  carpenter. 

2dly,  Thofe  a6ls  which  he  performed  during  his  piiblick  minif- 
irjif  which  began  when  he  was  about  thirty  years  of  age,  and 
cpntinued  for  the  three  laft  years  and  an  half  of  his  life.  Moft: 
of  the  hillory  of  the  evangelifls  is  taken  up  in  giving  an  account 
of  what  paffed  during  thefe  three  years  and  an  half  ;  fo  is  all 
the  hiftory  of  the  Evangelill  Matthew,  excepting  the  two  firfl 
chapters.  So  is  the  whole  of  the  hifliory  of  the  Evangelift 
Mark  ;  it  begins  and  ends  with  it.  And  fo  alfo  is  all  the  gofpel 
of  John,  and  all  the  gofpel  of  Luke,  excepting  the  two  firft 
chapters  ;  excepting  alfo  what  we  find  in  the  evangclills  con- 
cerning the  miniHry  of  John  the  BaptifL  Chrifl's  firfl  appear- 
ing in  his  publick  miniilry,  is  what  is  often  called  his  coining  in 
icripture.  Thus  John  fpeaks  of  Chrifl's  coming  as  what  is  yet 
to  be,  though  he  had  been  born  long  before. 

Concerning  the  publick  riiinifliy  of  Chrifl,  I  would  obferve 
the  follov/ing  things.  1.  The  forerunner  of  it.  2,  The  manner 
of  his  firfl  entering  upon  it,  3.  The  works  in  which  he  was 
employed  during  the  courfe  of  it  ;  and,  4.  The  manner  of  his 
finifliing  it. 

1.  The  forerunner  of  Chrifl's  coming  in  his  publick  jniniflry 
was  John  the  Baptifl  ;  He  came  preaching  repentance  for  the 
lemifTion  of  fins,  to  make  way  for  Chrifl's  coming,  agreeable  to 
the  prophcfcies  of  him,  If.  xl.  3,  4,  5.  and  Matth.  iv.  5,  6.  It  is 
i;ippofed  that  John  the  Baptifl  began  his  minilby  about  three 

years 


184  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Pen'od  11, 

years  and  an  half  before  Clirift  ;  fo  that  John's  iTiiniftry  and 
ChrKl's  put  together,  made  fevcn  ycari,  which  was  the  lail  of 
Daniel's  weeks  ;  and  this  time  is  intended  in  Dan.  ix,  27.  '•  lie 
will  confirm  the  covenant  with  many  for  one  week."  Chrifl 
came  in  the  midd  of  this  week,  viz.  in  the  beginning  of  th^  laffc 
half  of  it,  or  the  laft  three  years  and  an  half,  as  Daniel  foretold, 
as  in  the  verfe  jufl  now  quoted  :  "  And  in  the  midft  of  the 
week  he  (hall  caufe  the  facrifice  and  the  oblation  to  ceafe." 

John  Baptifl's  miniftry  confided  principally  in  preaching  the 
law,  to  awaken  men  and  convince  them  of  fin,  to  prepare  men 
for  the  coming  of  Chrifl,  to  comfort  them,  as  the  lav/  is  to  pie- 
pare  the  heart  for  the  entertainment  of  the  gcfpel. 

A  very  remarkable  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  attended 
John's  miniftiy ;  and  the  effeft  of  it  was  tliat  Jerufalem,  and  all 
Judea,  and  all  the  region  round  about  Jordan,  were  awakened,  con- 
vinced, went  out  to  him,  and  fubm.ittcd  to  his  baptifm,  confelTing 
their  fins.  John  is  fpoken  of  as  the  greateft  of  all  the  prophets 
who  came  before  Chrifl :  Matth,  xi.  11.  '*  Among  thofe  that  are 
born  of  women,  there  hath  not  rifen  a  greater  than  Joim  the 
Baptifl  ;"  z.  e.  he  had  the  mod  honourable  ofFice.  He  was  as 
the  morning  daiY  which  is  the  harbinger  of  the  approaching 
day,  and  forerunner  of  the  rifing  fun.  The  other  prophets  were 
flars  that  were  to  give  light  in  the  night  ;  but  we  have  heard 
how  thofe  dars  went  out  on  the  approach  of  the  gofpel  day. 
But  now  the  com.ing  of  Chrid  being  very  nigh,  the  morning 
dar  comes  before  him,  the  brighted  of  all  the  dars,  as  John 
the  Baptid  was  the  greated  of  all  the  prophets. 

And  when  Chrid  came  in  his  publick  minidry,  the  light  of 
that  morning  dar  decreafed  too ;  as  we  fee,  when  the  fun  rifes, 
it  diminifhes  the  light  of  t'he  morning  dar.  So  John  the  Bap- 
tid fays  of  himfelf,  John  iii.  30.  "  He  mud  increafe,  but  I  mud 
decreafe."  And  foon  after  Chrid  began  his  publick  minidry, 
John  the  Baptid  was  put  to  death;  as  the  morning  dar  is  viii- 
ble  a  little  while  after  the  fun  is  rifen,  yet  foon  goes  out. 

2.  The  next  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  Chrid's  entrance 
on  his  publick  minidry,  which  was  by  baptifm,  followed  with 
the  temptation  in  the  wildcrnefs.  Plis  baptifm  was  as  it  were 
his  folemn  inauguration,  by  which  he  entered  on  his  minidry  ; 
and  was  attended  with  his  being  anointed  with  the  Holy  Ghod, 
in  a  folemn  and  vilible  manner,  the  Holy  Ghofl  defcending  up- 
on him  in  a  vifible  diape  like   a  dove,    attended  with  a  voice 

from 


Part  II.  3.    WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         1B5 

from  heaven,  faying,  "This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am 
well  pleafed,  Matth.  iii.  16,  17. 

After  this  he  was  led  by  the  devil  into  the  wildernefs.  Sa- 
tan  made  a  violent  onfet  upon  him  at  his  firft  entrance  on  his 
work ;  and  now  he  had  a  remarkable  trial  of  his  obedience  ; 
but  he  got  the  viftory.  He  who  had  fuch  fucccfs  with  the 
firft  Adam,  had  none  with  the  fecond, 

3.  I  would  take  notice  of  the  work  in  which  Chrift  was  em- 
ployed during  his  miniftry.  And  here  are  three  things  chiefly 
to  be  taken  notice  ®f,  viz.  his  preaching,  his  working  miracles, 
and  his  calling  and  appointing  difciples  and  minifters  of  his 
kingdom. 

(1.)  His  preaching  the  gofpel.  Great  part  of  the  work  of 
hispublick  miniftry  confifted  in  this;  and  much  of  that  obedi- 
ence by  which  he  purchafed  falvation  for  us,  was  in  his  fpeak- 
ing  thofe  things  which  the  Father  commanded  him.  He  more 
clearly  and  abundantly  revealed  the  mind  and  will  of  God,  than 
ever  it  had  been  revealed  before.  He  came  from  the  bofom  of 
the  Father,  and  perfedly  knew  his  mind,  and  was  in  the  beft 
capacity  to  reveal  it.  As  the  fun,  as  foon  as  it  is  rifcn,  begins 
to  ftiine ;  fo  Chrift,  as  foon  as  he  came  into  his  publick  minif- 
try, began  to  enlighten  the  world  with  his  doftrine.  As  the 
law  was  given  at  Mount  Sinai,  fo  Chrift  delivered  his  evangeli- 
cal doftrine,  full  of  blefiings,  and  not  curfes,  to  a  multitude  oa 
a  mountain,  as  we  have  an  account  in  the  5th,  6th,  and  7th 
chapter  of  Matthew. 

When  he  preached,  he  did  not  teach  as  the  fcribes,  but  he 
taught  as  one  having  authority ;  fo  that  his  hearers  were  afton- 
iflied  at  his  do6lrine.  He  did  not  reveal  the  mind  and  will  af 
God  in  the  ftylo  which  the  prophets  ufcd  to  preach,  as  not 
fpeaking  their  own  words,  but  the  words  of  another  ;  and  ufed 
to  fpeak  in  fuch  a  ftyle  as  this,  "  Thus  faith  the  Lord ;"  but 
Chrift,  in  fuch  a  ftyle  as  this,  "  I  fay  unto  you,"  thus  or  thus  ; 
♦'  Verily,  verily,  I  fay  unto  you."  He  delivered  his  doftrines, 
not  only  as  the  doftrines  of  God  the  Father,  but  as  his  own  doc- 
trines. He  gave  forth  his  commands,  not  as  the  prophets  were 
wont  to  do,  as  God's  commands,  but  as  his  own  commands. 
He  fpake  in  fuch  a  ftyle  as  this,  ««  This  is  my  commandment,** 
John  XV.  12.  "  Ye  are  my  friends,  if  yc.  do  whatfoevcr  I  com- 
mand you,"  ibid,  X4, 

Z  (9.)  Another  ^^ 


i86  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    the  Period  II. 

(2.)  Another  thing  that  Chrift  was  employed  in  during  the 
courle  of  liis  miniftry,  was  working  miracles.  Concerning 
which  we  may  obferve  feveral  things. 

Their  multitude.     Befides  particular  inftances,  we  often  have 
an  account  of  multitudes  coming  at  once  with  difeafes,  and  his 
^healing  them,. 

They  were  zoorks  of  rriercy.  In  them  was  difplayed  not  only 
his  infinite  power  and  greatnefs,  but  his  infinite  mercy  and 
goodnefs.  He  went  about  doing  good,  healing  the  fick,  reflor- 
ing  fight  to  the  blind,  hearing  to  the  deaf,  and  the  proper  ufe 
li.^Qf  their  limbs  to  the  lame  and  halt;  feeding  the  hungry,  cleanf- 
ing  the  leprous,  and  raifing  the  dead. 

They  were  almoft  all  of  them  fuch  as  had  bcenfpoken  of  as  the 
peculiar  zoorks  oj  God,  in  the  Old  Tcftament.  So  with  refpeft  to' 
Hilling  the  fea,  Pfal.  cvii.  29.  "  He  maketh  the  ftorm  a  calm, 
fo  that  the  waves  thereof  are  ftill."  So  as  to  walking  on  the 
fea  in  a  ftorm  :  Job  ix.  8.  "  Which  alone  —  treadeth  upon  the 
"W-aves  of  the  fea."  So  as  to  cafting  out  devils:  Pfal.  Ixxiv.  14. 
*'  Thou  breakeft  the  heads  of  leviathan  in  pieces.'*  So  as  to 
feeding  a  multitude  in  a  wildernefs  :  Deut.  viii,  16.  "  Who  fed 
thee  in  the  w^ildernefs  with  manna.'*  So  as  to  telling  man's 
thoughts  :  Amos  iv.  13.  "  Lo,  he  that  •— declareth  unto  man 
what  is  his  thought  —  the  Lord,  the  God  of  hofts  is  his  name." 
So  as  to  raifing  the  dead  :  Pfal.  Ixviii.  20.  «<  Unto  God  the  Lord 
belong  the  ifi^'ue^  from  death.**  So  as  to  opening  the  eyes  of 
the  blind  :  Pfal.  cxlvi.  8.  "The  Lord  openeth  the  ey€b  of  the 
blind.**  So  as  to  healing  the  fick :  Pfal.  ciii.  3.  "  Who  healeth 
all  thy  difeafes."  So  as  to  lifting  up  thofe  who  are  bowed  to- 
gether :  Pfal.  cxlvi.  8.  "  The  Lord  raifeth  them  that  are  bowed 
down.** 

They  were  in  general  fuch  works  as  were  images,  oJ  the  great 
toork  zohich  he  came  to  zvork  on  man's  heart  ;  reprefenting  that  in- 
ward^ fpiritual  cleanfing,  healing,  renovation,  and  refurreftion, 
which  all  his  redeemed  are  the  fubjefts  of. 

He  ziireugjkt  them  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  jhow^  that  he  did  them  by 
his  ozon  power,  and  not  by  the  power  of  another^  as  the  other  prophets 
did.  They  were  wont  to  work  all  their  miracles  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord;  but  Chrifl  wrought  in  his  own  name.  Mofes  was 
forbidden  to  enter  into  Canaan,  becaufe  he  feemed  by  his  fpeech 
to  affume  the  honour  of  working  only  one  miracle  to  himfelf. 
Nor  did  Chdliwork  miracles  as  the  apoftlcs  did,  who  wrought 

'  them 


Part  II.  3.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        187 

them  all  in  the  name  of  Chrift ;  but  he  wrought  them  in  his 
own  name,  and  by  his  own  authority  and  will ;  Thus,  faith  he, 
"  I  will,  be  thou  clean,"  Matth.  viii.  3.  And  in  the  fame  ftrain 
he  put  the  queftion,  "  ^i  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do  this  ?'* 
Matth.  ix.  28. 

(3.)  Anpther  thing  that  Chrift  did  in  the  courfc  of  his  minify 
try,  was  to  call  his  difciples.  He  called  many  difciples.  There 
were  many  that  he  employed  as  minifters  ;  he  fent  feventy 
difciples  at  one  time  in  this  work :  But  there  were  twelve  that 
he  fet  apart  as  apofUes,  who  were  the  grand  miniilers  of  his 
kingdom,  and  as  it  were  the  twelve  foundations  of  his  church* 
See  Rev.  xxi.  14.  Thefe  were  the  main  inftruments  of  fet  ting 
up  his  kingdom  in  the  world,  and  therefore  fhall  fit  on  twelve 
thrones,  judging  the  twelve  tribes  of  Ifrael. 

4.  I  would  obferve  how  he  finifhed  his  miniftry, — And  this 
was, 

(1.)  In  giving  his  dying  counfels  to  his  difciples,  and  all  that 
ihould  be  his  difciples,  which  we  have  recorded  particularly  in 
the  14th,  15th,  and  16th  chapters  of  John's  gofpel. 

(2.)  In  inftituting  a  folemn  memorial  of  his  death.  This  he 
did  in  inftituting  the  facrament  of  the  Lord's  fupper,  wherein 
we  have  a  reprefentation  of  his  body  broken,  and  of  his  blood 
fhed. 

(3.)  In  offering  up  himfelf,  as  God's  high  prieft,  a  facrifice 
to  God,  which  he  did  in  his  laft  fufferings.  This  aft  he  did  as 
God's  minifter,  as  God's  anointed  prieft  ;  and  it  was  the  great- 
eft  aft  of  his  publick  miniftry,  the  greateft  aft  of  his  obedience, 
by  which  he  purchafed  heaven  for  believers.  The  priefts  of 
old  ufed  to  do  many  other  things  as  God's  minifters ;  but  then 
were  they  in  the  higheft  execution  of  their  office  when  they 
were  aftually  oft'ering  facrifice  on  the  altar.  So  the  greateft 
thing  that  Chrift  did  in  the  execution  of  his  prieftly  office,  and 
the  greateft  thing  that  he  ever  did,  and  the  greateft  thing  that 
ever  was  done,  was  the  offering  up  himfelf  a  facrifice  to  God, 
Herein  he  was  the  antitype  of  all  that  had  been  done  by  all  the 
priefts,  and  in  all  their  facrifices  and  offerings,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world. 

III.  The  third  diftribution  of  the  afts  by  which  Chrift  pur- 
chafed redemption,  regards  the  virtues  that  Chrijl -ixerdfcd  andman- 
ifejled  in  them.  And  here  I  would  obferve,  that  Chrift,  in  do* 
ing  the  work  that  he  had  to  do  here  in  the  world  for  our  re- 

demotion. 


j8S  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  tut  Period  IL 

demption,  exercifed  every  poflible  virtue  and  grace.  Indeed 
there  are  fome  particular  virtues  that  finful  man  may  have,  that 
were  not  in  Chrift ;  not  from  any  want  or  defeft  of  virtue,  but 
becaufe  his  virtue  was  perfeft  and  without  defeft.  Such  is  the 
virtue  of  repentance,  and  brokennefs  of  heart  for  (in,  and  mor- 
tification, and  denying  of  luft.  Thofe  virtues  were  not  in 
Chrift,  becaufe  he  had  no  fin  of  his  own  to  repent  of,  nor  any 
luft  to  deny.  But  all  virtues  which  do  not  prefuppofe  fin,  were 
in  him,  and  that  in  a  higher  degree  than  ever  they  were  in 
any  other  man,  or  any  mere  creature.  Every  virtue  in  him 
was  perfeft.  Virtue  itfelf  was  greater  in  him  than  in  any  oth- 
er; and  it  was  under  greater  advalitages  to  fhine  in  him  than 
in  any  other,  Strift  virtue  fhines  moft  when  moft  tried :  But 
never  any  virtue  had  fuch  trials  as  Chrift's  had. 

The  virtue  that  Chrift  exercifed  in  the  work  he  did,  may  be 
divided  into  three  forts,  viz.  the  virtues  which  more  immediate- 
ly refpe6l  God,  thofe  which  immediately  refpeft  himfelf,  and 
thofe  which  immediately  refpeft  men. 

1,  Thofe  virtues  which  more  immediately  refpeSl  God,  appeared  in 
Chrift  in  the  work  that  he  did  for  our  redemption*  There  ap- 
peared in  him  an  holy  fear  and  reverence  towards  God  the 
Father.  Chrift  had  a  greater  trial  of  his  virtue  in  this  refpeft 
than  any  other  had,  from  the  honourablenefs  of  his  perfon. 
This  was  the  temptation  of  the  angels  that  fell,  to  caft  off  their 
worftiip  of  God,  and  reverence  of  his  majefty,  that  they  were 
beings  of  fuch  exalted  dignity  and  worthinefs  themfelves.  But 
Chrift  was  infinitely  more  worthy  and  honourable  than  they  ;  for 
lie  was  the  eternal  Son  of  God,  and  his  perfon  was  ecj^ual  to  the 
perfon  of  God  the  Father  :  And  yet,  as  he  had  taken  on  him  the 
office  of  Mediator,  and  the  nature  of  man,  he  was  full  of  rever- 
ence towards  God.  He  had  ordered  him  in  the  moft  reveren- 
tial manner  time  after  time.  So  he  manifefted  a  wonderful  love 
towards  God.  The  angels  give  great  teftimonies  of  their  love 
towards  God,  in  their  conftancy  and  agility  in  doing  the  will 
of  God  ;  and  many  faints  have  given  great  teftimonies  of  their 
love,  who,  from  love  to  God,  have  endured  great  labours  and 
fufferings  :  But  none  ever  gave  fuch  teftimonies  of  love  to  God 
as  Chrift  has  given;  none  ever  performed  fuch  a  labour  of  love 
as  he,  and  fuffered  fo  much  from  love  to  God.  So  he  manifeft- 
ed the  moft  wonderful  fubmifiion  to  the  will  of  God,     Never 

was 


Part  11.3,      W  O  R  K.   OF   R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.        185 

was  any  one's  fubmiflion  fo  tried  as  his  was.     So  he  manifeftcd 
the  moft  wonderful  fpirit  of  obedience  that  ever  wasmanifcfted. 
2.  In  this  work  he  moft  wonderfully  manifefted  thofc  virtues 
zahich  more  immediately  refpeEled  himfelf  ;  as   particularly  humility, 
patience,  and  contempt  of  the  world.     Chrift,   though   he  was 
the  moft  excellent  and  honourable  of  all  men,  yet  was  the  moft 
humble  ;  yea,    he  was  the  moft  humble   of  all   creatures.     No 
angel  or  man  ever  equalled  him  in  humility,  though  he  was  the 
higheft  of  all  creatures  in  dignity  and  honourablenefs.     Chrift 
would  have  been  under  the  greateft  temptations  to  pride,   if  it 
had  been  poffible  for  any  thing  to  be  a  temptation  to  him.     The 
temptation  of  the  angels  that  fell  was  the  dignity  of  their  nature, 
and  the  honourablenefs  of  their  circumftances  ;  but  Chrift  was 
infinitely  more  honourable  than  they.     The  human  nature  of 
Chrift  was  fo  honoured  as  to  be  in  the  fame  perfon  with  the 
eternal  Son  of   God,   who  was  equal  with  God  ;  and  yet   that 
human  nature  was  not  at  all  lifted  up  with  pride.     Nor  was  the 
man  Chrift  Jefus  at  all  lifted  up  with  pride  with  all  thofe  won» 
derful  works  which  he  wrought,  of  healing  the  fick,  curing  the 
blind,  lame,  a^d  maimed,  and  railing  the  dead.     And  though  he 
knew  that  God  had  appointed  him  to  be  the  king  over   heaven 
and  earth,  angels  and  men,  as  he  fays,  Matth.  xi.  27.  "  AU  things 
are  delivered  unto  me  of  my  Father  ;"  though  he  knew  he  was 
fuch  an  infinitely  honourable  perfon,  and  thought  it  not  robbery 
to  be  equal  with  God  ;  and  though  he  knew  he  was  the  heir 
of  God  the  Father's  kingdom  :  Yet  fuch  was  his  humility,  that 
he  did  not  difdain  to  be  abafed  asd  depreiled  down  into  lower 
and  viler  circumftances  and  fufferings  than  ever  any  other  eleft 
creature  was  ;  fo  that  he  became  leaft  of  all,   and  loweft  of  all. 
The  proper  trial  and  evidence  of  humility,  is  ftooping  or  com- 
plying with  thofe  a6ls  or  circumftances,  when  called  to  it,  which 
are  very  low,    and   contain  great  abafement.     But   none  ever 
ftooped  fo  low  as  Chrift,  if  we  confider  either  the  infinite  height 
that  he  ftooped  from,  or  the  great  depth  to  which  he   ftooped. 
Such  was  his  humility,  that  though  he  knew  his  infinite  worthi- 
nefs  of  honour,  and  of  being  honoured  ten  thoufand   times  as 
much  as  the  higheft  prince  on  earth,  or  angel  in  heaven  ;  yet  he 
did  not  think  it  too  much  when  called  to  it,  to  be  bound  as  a 
curfed  malefaftor,   and  to  become  the  laughingftock   and   fpit- 
tingftock  of  the  vileft  of  men,  and  to  be  crowned  with   thorns, 
and  to  have  a  mock  robe  put  upon  him,  and  to  be  crucified  like 

a  flavc 


i^o  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE         Period  II. 

a  flave  and  malefaftor,  and  as  dbe  of  the  meanefl  and  word  of 
vagabonds  and  mifcreants,  and  an  accurfed  enemy  of  God  and 
men,  who  wa^  not  fit  to  live  on  the  earth  ;  and  this  not  for 
himfelf,  but  for  fome  of  the  meanefl  and  vileft  of  creatures, 
fome  of  thofe  accurfed  wretches  that  crucified  him,  ^  Was  not 
this  a  wonderful  manifeflation  of  humility,  when  he  cheerfully 
and  moft  freely  fubmitted  to  this  abafement  ? 

And,  ^  How  did  his  patience  fhine  forth  under  all  the  terri- 
ble fufferings  which  he  endured,  when  he  was  dumb,  and  open- 
ed not  his  mouth,  but  went  as  a  lamb  to  the  flaughter,  and  was 
like  a  patient  lamb  under  all  the  fufPerings  he  endured  from  firil 
to  lad  ? 

And,  ji  What  contempt  of  the  glory  of  this  world  was  there, 
when  he  rather  chofe  this  contempt,  and  meannefs,  and  fuffer- 
ing,  than  to  wear  a  temporal  crown,  and  be  invefted  with  the 
external  glories  of  an  earthly  prince,  as  the  multitude  often  fo- 
licited  him  ? 

3.  Chrift,  in  the  work  which  he  wrought  out,  in  a  wonder- 
ful manner  exercifed  thofe  virtues  which  more  immediately  refpcSl 
other  men.  And  thefe  may  be  fummed  up  under  ^t?(yo  heads,  viz, 
meeknefs,  and  love. 

Chrifl's  meeknefs  was  his  humble  calmnefs  of  fpirit  under  the 
provocations  that  he  met  with.  None  ever  met  with  fo  great 
provocations  as  he  did.  The  greatnefs  of  provocation  lies  in 
two  things,  viz.  in  the  degree  of  oppofition  by  which  the  prov- 
ocation's given  ;  and,  fecondly,  in  the  degree  of  the  unreafon- 
ablenefs  of  that  oppofition,  or  in  its  being  very  caufelefs,  and 
without  reafon,  and  the  great  degree  of  obligation  to  the  con- 
trary. Now,  if  we  confider  both  thefe  things,  no  man  ever 
met  with  fuch  provocations  as  Chrift  did,  when  he  was  upon 
earth.  If  we  confider  how  much  he  was  hated,  what  abufes  he 
fuffered  from  the  vileft  of  men,  how  great  his  fufferings  from 
men  were,  and  how  fpiteful  and  how  contemptuous  they  were, 
in  offering  him  thefe  abufes  ;  and  alfo  confider  how  caufelefs  and 
unreafonable  thefe  abufes  were,  how  undeferving  he  was  of  them, 
and  how  much  deferving  of  the  contrary,  viz.  of  love,  aind  hon- 
Qur,  and  good  treatment  at  their  hands  :  I  fay,  if  we  confider 
thefe  things,  no  man  ever  met  with  a  thoufandth  part  of  the 
provocation  that  Chrift  met  with  from  men  :  And  yet  how 
meek  was  he  under  all  !  how  compofed  and  quiet  his  fpirit  ! 
how  far  from  being  in  a  ruffle  and  tumult  !  When  he  \vas  re- 
viled, 


Part  II.  3.    WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        191 

viled,  he  reviled  not  again  ;  and  as  a  fheep  before  her  fhearers 
is  dumb,  fo  he  opened  not  his  mouth.  No  appearance  was 
there  of  a  revengeful  fpirit  ;  On  the  contrary,  what  a  fpirit  of 
forgivenefs  did  he  exhibit  !  fo  that  he  fervently  and  efFcftually 
prayed  for  thoir  forgivenefs,  when  they  were  in  the  higheft  aft 
of  provocation  that  ever  they  perpetrated,  viz.  nailing  him  to. 
the  crofs  :  Luke  xxiii.  34.  "  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know 
not  what  they  do.'* 

And  never  did  there  appear  fuch  an  inftance  of  love  to  men, 
Chrifl's  love  to  men  that  hefhowedwhen  on  earth,  and  efpecial- 
ly  in  going  through  his  laft  fuffcrings,  and  offering  up  his  life 
and  foul  under  thofe  fufferings,  which  was  his  greatell  aft  of 
love,  was  far  beyond  all  parallel.  There  have  been  very  re- 
markable manifeftations  of  love  in  fome  of  the  faints,  as  in  the 
Apoftle  Paul,  the  Apoflle  John,  and  others  :  But  the  love  to 
men  that  Chrift  fhowed  when  on  earth,  as  much  exceeded  the 
love  of  all  other  men,  as  the  ocean  exceeds  a  fmall  ftream. 

And  it  is  to  be  obferved,  that  all  the  virtues  which  appeared 
in  Chrill  Ihone^brighteft  in  the  clofe  of  his  life,  under  the  trials 
he  met  with  then.  Eminent  virtue  always  fhows  brighteil  in 
the  fire.  Pure  gold  fiiows  its  purity  chieflyan  the  furnace.  It 
was  chiefly  under  thofe  trials  which  Chrift  underwent  in  the 
clofe  of  his  life,  that  his  love  to  God,  his  honour  of  God's  maj- 
cfty,  and  his  regard  to  the  honour  of  his  law,  and  his  fpiat  of 
obedience,  and  his  humility,  and  contempt  of  the  world,  and 
his  patience,  and  his  meeknefs,  and  his  fpirit  of  forgivenefs  to- 
wards men,  appeared.  Indeed  every  thing  that  Chrift  did  to 
work  out  redemption  for  us  appears  mainly  in  the  clofe  of  his 
life.  Here  mainly  is  his  fatisfaftion  for  fin,  and  here  chiefly  is 
his  merit  of  eternal  life  for  finners,  and  here  chiefly  appears  the 
brightnefs  of  his  example,  which  he  hath  fet  us  to  follow. 

Thus  we  have  taken  a  brief  view  of  the  things  whereby  the 
purchafe  of  redemption  was  made  with  refpeft  to  his  ri^htcouf- 
nefs  that  appeared  in  them.— I  proceed  now, 

§  II.  To  take  a  view  of  them  with  refpeft  to  the  fatisJaEiion 
that  he  thereby  made  for  fin,  or  the  fuftringi  and  humiliation 
that  he  was  the  fubjeft  of   in  them  on  our  account.     And  here, 

I,  He  was  fubjeft  to  uncommon  humiliation,  and  fufferings 
in  his  infancy.  He  was  born  to  that  end  that  he  might  die  ; 
and  therefore  he  did  as  it  were  begin  to  die  as  foon  as  he  v.  iis 

born. 


192  A    HISTORY    OF  THK  Period  H. 

born.  His  mother  fufFered  in  an  uncommon  raartnex  in  bearing 
him.  When  her  travail  came  upon  her,  it  is  faid,  «  there  was 
no  room  in  the  inn,"  Luke  ii.  7,  She  was  forced  to  betake 
herfelf  to  a  liable  ;  and  therefore  Chrift  was  born  in  the  place 
of  the  bringing  forth  of  beads.  Thus  he  fufFered  in  his  birth, 
as  though  he  had  been  meaner  and  viler  than  a  man,  and  not 
poffefTed  of  the  dignity  of  the  human  nature,  but  had  been  of 
the  rank  of  the  brute  creatures.  And  we  may  conclude,  that 
his  mother's  circumftances  in  other  refpefts  were  proportionably 
ftrait  and  difficult,  and  that  fhe  was  deflitute  of  the  conveni- 
ences neceffary  for  fo  young  an  infant  which  others  were  wont 
to  have  ;  for  want  of  which  the  new  born  babe  without  doubt 
fuffered  much. 

And  be  fides,  he  was  perfecuted  in  his  infancy.  They  began 
to  feek  his  life  as  foon  as  he  was  born,  Herod,  the  chief  man  of 
the  land,  was  fo  engaged  to  kill  him,  that, in  order  to  it,  he  kill- 
ed all  the  children  in  Bethlehem,  and  in  all  the  coafts  thereof, 
from  two  years  old  and  under.  And  Chrifl  fuffered  banifkment 
in  his  infancy,  was  driven  out  of  his  native  country  into  Egypt, 
and  without  doubt  fuffered  much  by  being  carried  folong  a  jour- 
ney, when  he  was  fo  young,  into  a  flrange  country. 

n.  Chrift  was  fubjeft  to  great  humiliation  in  his  private  life  at 
Nazareth.     He  there  led  a  fervile  obfcure  life,   in   a  mean  la- 
borious occupation  :  For  he  is  called  not  only  the  carpenter's  forty 
but  the  carpenter  :  Mark  vi.  3,  *'  ^i  Is  not  this  the  carpenter,  the 
brother  of  James,   and  Jofes,  and  Juda,  and  Simon  ?'*     He,  by 
hard  labour,   earned  his  bread  before  he  ate  it,    and  fo  fufFered 
that  curfe  which  God  pronounced  on  Adam,  Gen.  iii.  13.  "  In 
the  fweat  oF  thy  face  fhalt  thou   eat  bread."     Let  us  confider 
how  great  a  degree  of  humiliation  the  glorious  Son  6f  God,  the 
creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  was  fubje£l;  to  in  this,  that  for  about 
thirty  years  he  fhould  live  a  private  obfcure  life  among  labour- 
ing men,  and  all  this  while  be  overlooked,  and  not  taken  notice 
of  in  the  world,  as  more  than  other  common  labourers.    ChriflY 
humiliation  in  fome  refpefts  was  greatar  in  private  life  than  in 
the  time  of  his  publick  miniftry.     There  were  many  manifefta- 
tions  of  his  glory  in  the  word  he  preached,  and  the  great  mira- 
cles he  wrought  :    But  the  firft  thirty  years  of  his  life  he  fpent 
among  mean  ordinary  men,  as  it  were  in  filence,  without  thofc 
manifeftations  of  his  glory,  or  any  thing  to  make  him  to  betak- 
en notice  of  more  than  any  ordinary  mechanick,  but  only  the 
0  fpotlcfs 


Part  II.  3*      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        193 

fpotlefs  purity  and  eminent  hoUnefs  of  his  life  ;  and  that  was  in 
a  great  meafure  hid  in  obfcurity  ;  fo  that  he  was  little  taken  no- 
tice of  until  after  his  baptilm. 

III.  Chrift  was  the  fubjed  of  gre^t  humiliation  and  fuffcring 
during  his  publick.  life,  from  his  baptifm  until  the  night  wherein 
he  was  betrayed.     As  particularly, 

1.  He  fulfered  great  poverty,  fo  that  he  had  not  »  where  to 
lay  his  liead,''  Matth.  viii.  20.  and  commonly  ufed  to  lodge 
abroad  in  the  open  air,  for  want  of  a  fhelter  to  betake  himfelf 
to  ;  as  you  will  fee  is  manifeft,  if  you  compare  the  following 
places  together,  which  I  (hall  but  name  to  you,  even  Matth, 
viii.  20.  and  John  xviii.  1,  2.  and  Luke  xxi.  37.  and  ch.  xxii. 
39,  So  that  what  was  fpoken  of  Chrift  in  Cant.  v.  2,  <*  My 
head  is  filled  with  dew,  and  my  locks  with  the  drops  of  the 
night,"  was  literally  fulfilled.  And  through  his  poverty  he 
doubtlefs  was  often  pinched  with  hunger,  and  thirft,  and  cold. 
We  read  Matth.  iv.  2.  that  he  was  an  hungred  :  And  fo  again 
in  Matth,  xxi.  18.  His  mother  and  natural  relations  were  poor, 
and  not  able  to  help  him  ;  and  he  was  maintained  by  the  chari- 
ty of  fome  of  nis  difciples  while  he  lived.  So  we  read  in  Luke 
viii.  at  the  beginning,  of  certain  women  that  followed  him,  and 
miniflercd  to  him  of  their  fubftance.  He  was  fo  poor,  that  he 
was  not  able  to  pay  the  tribute  that  was  demanded  of  him,  with- 
out the  miraculous  coming  of  a  fifh  to  bring  him  the  money  out 
of  the  fea  in  his  mouth.  See  Matth.  xvii,  27.  And  when  he 
ate  at  his  laQ,  paiTover,  it  was  not  at  his  own  charge,  but  at  the 
charge  of  another,  as  appears  by  Luke  xxii.  7.  &c.  And  from 
his  poverty  he  had  no  grave  of  his  own  to  be  buried  in.  It 
was  the  manner  of  the  Jews,  unlefs  they  were  very  poor,  and 
were  not  able,  to  prepare  themfelves  a  fepulchre  while  they  liv- 
ed. But  Chrift  had  no  land  of  his  own,  though  he  was  pof- 
fcfTor  of  heaven  and  earth  ;  and  therefore  was  buried  by  Jofeph 
of  Arimathea's  charity,  and  In  his  tomb,  which  he  had  prepared 
for  himfelf. 

2.  He  fufFered  great  hatred  and  reproach.  He  was  defprfed 
and  rejefted  of  men.  He  was  by  moft  efteemed  a  poor  infignif- 
icant  perfon  ;  one  of  little  account,  flighted  for  his  low  parent- 
age, and  his  mean  city  Nazareth.  He  was  reproached  as  a  glut- 
ton and  drunkard,  a  friend  of  publicans  and  fmners  ;  was  called 
a  deceiver  of  the  people  ;  fometimes  was  called  a  madman,  and 
a  Samaritan,  and  one  poiTeffcd  with  4  devil,  John  vii.   20.  and 

A  a  viii. 


194  A    HISTORY     or    the  Period  11. 

viii.  48.  and  x.  20.  He  was  called  a  blafphemer,  and  was  ac- 
counted by  many  a  wizard,  or  one  that  wrought  miracles  by 
the  black  art,  and  by  communication  with  Beelzebub.  They 
excommunicated  him,  and  agreed  to  excommunicate  any  man 
that  fhould  own  him,  as,  John  ix.  22.  They  wifhed  him  dead, 
and  were  continually  leeking  to  murder  him  ;  fometimes  by 
force,  and  fometimes  by  craft.  They  often  took  up  ftones  to 
flone  him,  and  once  led  him  to  the  brow  of  a  hill,  intending  to 
throw  him  down  the  precipice,  to  dafh  him  in  pieces  againfl 
the  rocks. 

He  was  thus  hated  and  reproached  by  his  own  vifible  people : 
John  i.  11.  "  He  came  to  his  own,  and  his  own  received  him 
tiot,"  And  he  was  principally  defpiled  and  hated  by  thofe  who 
were  in  chief  repute,  and  were  their  greatefl;  men.  And  the 
hatred  wherewith  he  was  hated  was  general.  Into  whatever 
part  of  the  land  he  went,  he  met  with  hatred  and  contempt. 
He  met  with  thefe  in  Capernaum,  and  when  he  went  to  Jericho, 
when  he  went  to  Jerufalem,  which  was  the  holy  city,  when  he 
went  to  the  temple  to  worfhip,  and  alfo  in  Nazareth,  his  own 
city,  and  among  his  own  relations,  and  his  old  neighbours. 

3.  He  fuffered  the  buffetings  of  Satan  in  an  uncommon  man- 
ner. We  read  of  one  time  in  particular,  when  he  had  a  long 
confli6fc  with  the  devil,  when  he  was  in  the  wildernefs  forty 
days,  with  nothing  but  wild  beafts  and  devils  ;  and  was  fo  ex- 
pofed  to  the  devil's  power,  that  he  was  bodily  carried  about  by 
him  from  place  to  place,  while  he  was  otherwife  in  a  very  fuf- 
fering  flate. 

And  fo  much  for  the  humiliation  and  fuffering  of  Chrift's 
publick  life,  from  his  baptifm  to  the  night  wherein  he  was  be- 
trayed. 

IV.  I  come  now  to  his  laft  humiliation  and  fufferings,  from 
the  evening  of  the  night  wherein  he  was  betrayed  to  his  refur- 
reftion.  And  here  was  his  greatefl  humiliation  and  fuffering, 
by  which  principally  he  made  fatisfaftion  to  the  juflice  of  God 
for  the  (ins  of  men.  Firfl,  his  life  was  fold  by  one  of  his  own 
difciples  for  thirty  pieces  of  filver,  which  was  the  price  of  the 
life  of  a  fervant,  as  you  may  fee  in  Exod.  xxi.  32.  Then  he  was 
in  that  dreadful  agony  in  the  garden.  There  came  fuch  a  difmal 
gloom  upon  his  foul,  that  he  began  to  be  forrowful  and  very 
heavy,  and  faid,  his  "  foul  was  exceeding  forrowful,  even  unto 
^Cftth,  and  was  fore  amazed,"    So  violent  was  the  agony  of  his 

foul, 


Part  II.  3.     WORK    of    REDE  M  P  T  I  O  N.         195 

foul,  as  to  force  the  blood  through  the  pores  of  his  Hcin  ;  fo  that 
while  his  foul  was  overwhelmed  with  amazing  forrow,  his  body- 
was  all  clotted  with  blood.     The  difciples,  who  ufed  to  be  as  his 
friends  and  family,    at   this  time,   above  all,  appeared  cold   to- 
wards him,  and  unconcerned  for  him,  at  the  fame  time  that  his 
Father's    face  was  hid  from  him.     Judas,    to  whom  Chrift  had 
been  fo  very  merciful,  and  treated  as  one  of  his  family,  or  famil- 
iar friends,  comes  and  betrays  him  in  the  moll  deceitful,  treach- 
erous manner.     The  officers   and  foldiers   apprehend  and  bind 
him  ;  his  difciples  forfake  him,  and  flee  ;  his  own  beft   friends 
do  not  ftand  by  him  to  comfort  him,  in  this  time  of  his  diflrefs* 
He  is  led  away  as  a  malefa£lor  to  appear  before  the  priefts  and 
fcribes,  his  venomous,  mortal  enemies,  that  they  might  fit  as  his 
judges,   who  fat  up  all  night,  to  have  the  pleafure  of  infulting 
him,  now  they  had  got  him  into  their  hands.     But  becaufe  they 
aimed  at  nothing  Ihort  of  his  life,    they  fet  themfelves  to   find 
fome  colour  to  put  him  to  death,  and  feek  for   witnelfes  againft 
him.     When  none  appeared,  they  fet  fome    to  bear  falfe   wit- 
nefs  ;  and  when  their  witnefs  did  not  agree  together,  then  they 
go  to  examining  him,  to  catch  fomething  out  of  his  own  mouth* 
They  hoped   he   would  fay,  that  he  was  the  Son  of  God,   and 
then  they  thought  they  fhould  have  enough.     But  becaufe  they 
fee  they  are  not  like  to  obtain  it  without   it,    they  then  go   to 
force  him  to  fay  it,  by  adjuring  him  in  the  name  of  God,  to  fay 
whether  he  was  or  not  :  And  when  he   confefied  that  he  was, 
then  they  fuppofed  they  had  enough  ;  and  then  it  was  a  time  of 
rejoicing  with  them,  which  they  fhow,  by  falling   upon  Chrift, 
and  fpitting  in  his  face,  and  blindfolding  him,  and  flriking  him 
in  the  face  with  the  palms  of  their  hands,  and  then  bidding  him 
prophefy  who  it  was  that  flruck  him  ;  thus  ridiculing  him  for 
pretending   to  be  a  prophet.     And  the  very  fervants  have  a 
hand  in  the  fport  :  Mark  xiv.  6^,  "  And  the  fervants  did  ftrike 
him  with  the  palms  of  their  hands." 

During  the  fufferings  of  that  night,  Peter,  one  of  the  chief  of 
his  own  difciples,  inltead  of  ftanding  by  him  to  comfort  him,  ap- 
pears afhamed  to  own  him,  and  denies  and  renounces  him  with 
oaths  and  curfes.  And  after  the  chcif  priefts  and  elders  had  finifti- 
cd  the  night  in  fo  fliamefuUy  abuling  him,  when  the  morning  was 
come,  which  was  the  morning  of  the  moft  wonderful  day  that 
ever  was,  they  led  him  away  to  Pilate,  to  be  condemned  to  death 
by  him;  becaufe  they  had  not  the  power  of  life  and  death  in  their 

own 


sgS  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  IL 

own  hands.  He  is  brought  before  Pilate's  judgment  feat,  and 
there  the  priefts  and  elders  accufe  him  as  a  traitor.  And  when 
Pilate,  upon  examining  into  the  matter,  declared  he  found  no 
fault  in  him,  the  Jews  were  but  the  more  fierce  and  violent  to 
have  him  condemned.  Upon  which  Pilate,  after  clearing  him, 
very  unjuftly  brings  him  upon  a  fecond  trial  ;  and  then  not  find- 
ing any  thing  againft  hira,  acquits  him  again.  Pilate  treats  him 
3S  a  poor  worthlefs  fellow  ;  but  is  aOiamed  on  fo  little  pretence 
to  condemn  him  as  a  traitor. 

And  then  he  was  fent  to  Herod  to  be  tried  by  him,  and  was 
brought  before  Herod's  judgment  fc^t  ;  and  his  enemies  follow- 
ed, and  virulently  accufed  him  before  Herod.  Herod  does  not 
condemn  him  as  a  traitor,  or  one  that  would  fet  up  for  a  king, 
but  looks  upon  him  as  Pilate  did,  as  a  poor  worthlefs  creature,  not 
worthy  to  be  taken  notice  of,  and  does  but  make  a  mere  laugh  of 
the  Jews'  accufing  him  as  a  dangerous  perfon  to  Ccfar,  as  one 
that  was  in  danger  of  fetting  up  to  be  a  king  againft  him  ;  and 
therefore,  in  derifion,  drelTes  him  up  in  a  mock  robe,  and  makes 
fport  of  him,  and  fends  him  back  through  the  ftreets  of  Jcrufa- 
iem  to  Pilate,   with  the  mock  robe  on. 

Then  the  Jews  prefer  Barabbas  before  him,  and  are  inftant 
and  violent  with  loud  voices  to  Pilate,  to  crucify  him.  So  Pi- 
late, after  he  had  cleared  him  twice,  and  Herod  once,  very  un- 
righteoufly  brings  him  on  trial  the  third  time,  to  try  if  he  could 
not  find  fomething  againft  him  fufficient  to  crucify  him.  Chrift 
was  ftripped  and  fcourged  :  Thus  he  gave  his  back  to  the  fmiter. 
After  that,  though  Pilate  ftill  declared  that  he  found  no  fault  in 
him ;  yet  fo  unjuft  was  he,  that  for  fear  of  the  Jews  he  deliver- 
ed Chrift  to  be  crucified.  But  before  they  execute  the  fentence, 
his  fpiteful  and  cruel  enemies  take  the  plcafure  of  anotlier  fpell 
of  mocking  him  ;  they  get  round  him,  artd  make  a  fet  bufinefs 
of  it.  They  ftripped  him,  and  put  on  him  a  fcarlet  robe,  and  a 
reed  in  his  hand,  and  a  crown  of  thorns  on  his  head.  Both 
Jews  and  Roman  foldiers  were  united  in  the  tranfaflion  ;  they 
bow  the  knee  before  him,  and  in  derifion  cry,  "  Hail,  king  of 
the  Jews  !"  They  fpit  upon  him  aifo,  and  take  the  reed  out  of 
his  hand,  and  fmite  him  on  the  head.  After  this,  they  led  him 
away  to  crucify  him,  and  made  him  carry  his  own  crofs,  until 
he  funk  under  it,  his  ftrength  being  fpent  j  and  then  they  laid 
it  on  one  Simon  a  Cyrenian, 

At 


Part  11.  3-     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         197 

At  length,  being  come  to  Mount  Calvary,  they  execute  the 
fentence  which  Pilate  had  i'o  unrighteoufly  pronounced.     They 
nail  him  to  his  crofs  by  his^hands   and  feet,  then  raile  it  ered, 
and  fix   one  end  in  the   ground,   he  being   Hill  Tufpended  on  it 
by  the   nails   which   pierced  his    hands    and    feet.     And   now 
Chrifl's    lufFerings   arc   come  to    the   extremity:  Now  the  cup, 
which   he   I'o    earneflly  prayed  that  it  might  pafs   from   him,  is 
come,  and  he  muft,  he  does  drink  i^.     In  thole  days  crucifixion 
was  the  moft  tormenting  kind  of  death  by  which  any  were  wont 
to  be  executed.     There  was  no  death   wherein   the  perfon  ex* 
pired  fo  much  of  mere  torment :   And  hence  the  Roman  word, 
which  fignifies   torment^  is  taken  from  this  kind  of  death. — i\nd 
befides  what  our  Lord  endured    in   this  excruciating  death  in 
his  body,  he  endured  vafUy  more  in  his  foul.     Now   was  that 
travail  of  his  foul,  of   which  we  read  in  the   prophet ;  now  it 
pleafed  God  to   bruife  him,    and  to  put  him  to   grief;  now  he 
poured  out  his  foul  unto  death,  as  in  If.  liii.     And  if  the  mere 
forethought  of  this  cup  made  him  fweat  blood,  how  much  more 
dreadful   and   excruciating  muft  the  drinking  of  it  have  been  ! 
Many  martyrs   have   endured  much  in  their  bodies,  while  their 
fouls  have  been  joyful,   and  have  fung  for  joy,  whereby  they 
have  been  fupported  under  the  fufFerings  of  their  outward  man, 
and   have   triumphed  over  them.     But  this  was  not  the  cafe 
with  Chrift  ;  he  had  no  fuch  lupport  ;  but  his  fufFerings  were 
chiefly  thofe  of   the  mind,  though  the  other   were  extremely 
great.     In  his   crucifixion   Chrift  did  not  fweat  blood,   as  he 
had  before,  becaufe  his  blood  had   vent  otherwife,   and  not   be- 
caufe  his  4gony  was  now  not  fo  great.     But  though  he  did  not 
fweat  blood,  yet  fuch. was   the  fuffering  of  his  foul,  that  proba- 
bly it  rent  his  vitals  ;  as   feems  probable  by  this,   that  when  his 
fide  was  pierced,  there  came  forth  blood  and  water.     And  fo 
here  was  a  kind  of  literal  fulfilment  of  that   in  Pfal.  xxii.  34. 
<'  I  am  poured  out   like  water :  —  My  heart  is  like  wax,  it   is 
melted  in  the  midft  of  my  b®wels,'' 

Now,  under  all  thefe  fufFerings,  the  Jews  ftill  mock  him ; 
and  wagging  their  heads  fay,  "  Thou  that  dcftroyeft  the  temple, 
and  buildeft  it  in  three  days,  fave  thyfelf :  If  thou  be  the  Son 
of  God,  come  down  from  the  crofs."  And  even  the  chief 
priefts,  fcribes,  and  elders,  joined  in  the  cry,  faying,  "  He  faved 
others,  himfclf  he  cannot  fave."  And  probably  the  devil  at  the 
fame  time  tormented  him  to  the  utmoft  of  his  power  j  and  hence 

it 


198  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    THE  Period  II. 

it  is  faid,  Luke  xxii.  53.  "This  is  your  hour,  and  the  power  of 
darknefs." 

Under  thefe  fufFerings,  Chrift  having  cried  out  once  and 
again  with  a  loud  voice,  at  lafl  he  faid,  «'  It  is  finifhed,"  (John 
xix.  30.)  «  and  bowed  the  head,  and  gave  up  the  ghoft,"  And 
thus  was  finifhed  the  greateft  and  mod  wonderful  thing  that 
ever  was  done.  Now  the  angels  beheld  the  mofl  wonderful 
fight  that  ever  they  faw.  Now  was  accomplifhed  the  main 
thing  that  had  been  pointed  at  by  the  various  inflitutions  of 
the  ceremonial  law,  and  by  all  the  typical  difpenfation,  and  by 
all  the  facrifices  from  the  beginning  of  the  world. 

Chrill  being  thus  brought  under  the  power  of  death,  contin- 
ed  under  it  until  the  morning  of  next  day  but  one ;  and  then 
was  finifhed  that  great  work,  the  purchafe  of  our  redemption, 
for  which  fuch  great  preparation  had  been  made  from  the  be- 
ginning of  the  world.  Then  w^as  finifhed  all  that  was  req^uired 
in  order  to  fatisfy  the  threatenings  of  the  law,  and  all  that  was 
neceffary  iri  order  to  fatisfy  divine  juftice  ;  then  the  utmoft  that 
vindiftivc  juflice  demanded,  even  the  whole  debt  was  paid. 
Then  was  finifhed  the  whole  of  the  purchafe  of  eternal  life. 
And  now  there  is  no  need  of  any  thing  more  to  be  done  to- 
\v»ards  a  purchafe  of  falvation  for  finners ;  nor  has  ever  any 
thing  been  done  fince,  nor  will  any  thing  more  be  done  for 
ever  and  ever. 

IMPROVEMENT, 

IN  furvcying  the  hiflory  of  redempt  ion,  from  the  fall  of  man 
to  the  end  of  the  world,  we  have  now  fiiown  how  this  work 
was  carried  on  through  the  two  former  of  the  three  main  peri- 
ods into  which  this  whole  fpacc  of  time  was  divided,  viz,  from 
the  fall  to  the  incarnation  of  Chrifl,  and  from  thence  to  the 
end  of  the  time  of  Chrifl's  humiliation ;  and  have  particularly 
explained  how  in  the  firft  of  thefe  periods  God  prepared  the 
way  for  Chrifl*s  appearing  and  purchafing  redemption  ;  and 
how,  in  the  fecond  period,  that  purchafe  was  made  and  finifh- 
ed. I  would  now  make  fomc  improvement  of  what  has  been 
faid  on  both  thefe  fubje6ts  confidered  conjunctly, — And  this  I 
would  do, 

1.  In  an  ufe  of  reproof. 

9[«  In  an  ufe  of  encouragement. 

Seciion 


Impr.  1.         WORK    op    REDEMPTION,        199 

SeBion  I. 

1  BEGIN  with  an  ufe  of  reproof  ;  a  reproof  of  three  things  : 

1.  Of  unbelief. 

2.  Of  felf  righteoufnefs. 

3.  Of  a  carekfs  negleft  of  the  falvation  of  Chrift. 

I.  If  it  be  as  we  have  heard,  how  greatly  do  thefe  things  re- 
prove  thofe  who  do  not  believe  in,  but  rejeft   the  lord  Jefus 
Chrift  !  i.  e.  all  thole  who  do  not  heartily  receive  him.     Per- 
fons  may  receive  him  in  profefTion,  and  carry  well  outwardly 
towards  him,  and  may  wiih  that  they  had  fome  of  thofe  bene- 
fits that  Chrift  has  purchafed,  and   yet  their  hearts   not  receive 
Chrift;  they  may  be  hearty  in   nothing  that  they  do   towards 
Chrift ;  they  may  have   no  high  efteem  of  Chrift,  nor  any  fin- 
cere  honour  or  refpeft  to  Chrift  ;  they  may  never  have  opened 
the  door  of  their  heart  to  Chrift,  but  have  kept  him  fh,ut  out 
all  their  days,  ever  fince  they  firft  heard  of  Chrift,  and  his  fal- 
vation has  been  off"ered   to   them.     Though  their  hearts   have 
been  opened  to  others,  their  doors  have  been   flung  wide  open 
to  them,  and  they  have  had  free  admittance  at  all   times,   and 
have  been  embraced  and  made  much  of,   and  the  beft.room  in 
their  hearts  has  been  given  them,  and  the  throne  of  their  hearts 
has  been  allowed   ihem ;  yet  Chrift  has  always  been  fhut  out, 
and  they  have  been  deaf  to  all   his  knocks  and  calls.     They 
never  could  find  an   inclination  of  heart  to   receive  him,  nor 
would  they  ever  truft  in  him. 

Let  me  now  call  upon  you  with  whom  It  is  thus,   to  confider 
how  great  your  fin,  in  thus  rejefting  Jefus  Chrift,  appears  to  be 
from  thofe  things  that  have  been  faid.     You  flight  the   glorious 
perfon,   for  whofe   coming  God  made  fuch  great  preparation  In 
fuch  a  feries  of  wonderful  prdvldences  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,   and  whom,   after  all  things  were   made  ready,  God  fent 
into  the  world,  bringing    to  pafs  a  thing  before   unknown,  viz. 
the  union  of  the  divine  nature  with  the  human  in  one   perfon. 
You  have  been  guilty  of  flighting  that  great  Saviour,  who,  after 
fuch  preparation,  aftually  accompliflied  the  purchafe  of  redemp- 
tion i  and  who,  after  he  had  fpent  three  or  four  and  thirty  years 
in  poverty,  labour,  and  contempt,  in  purchafing  redemption,  at 
laft  finiflaed  the  purchafe  by  clofing  his  life  under  fuch  extreme 
fufferings  as  you  have  heard  ;  and  fo  by  his  death,  and  contin- 
uing 


«00  A     HISTORY     OF    THE  PeilotI  II, 

iiing  for  n  time  under  the  power  of  death,  completed  the  whole. 
This  is  the  perfon  you  rejeft  and  defpife.  You  make  light  of 
all  the  glory  of  his  perfon,  and  of  all  the  glorious  love  of  God 
the  Father,  in  fending  him  into  the  world,  and  all  his  wonder- 
ful love  appearing  in  the  whole  of  this  affair.  That  precious 
flone  that  God  hath  laid  in  Zion  for  a  foundation  in  fuch  a 
manner,  and  by  fuch  wonderful  v^^orks  as  you  have  heard,  Is 
a  ftone  fet  at  nought  by  you. 

Sinners' fometimes  are  ready  to  wonder  why  the  fin  of  unbe- 
lief ihould  be  looked  upon  as  fuch  a  great  fin  :  But  if  you  con- 
fider  what  you  have  heard,  ^  How  can  you  wonder  r  If  it  be  fo, 
that  tliis  Saviour  is  fo  great  a  Saviour,  and  this  work  fo  great 
a  work,  and  fuch  great  things  have  been  done  in  order  to  it, 
truly  there  is  no  caufe  of  wonder  that  the  Cin  of  unbelief,  or  the 
rejection  of  this  Saviour,  is  fpoken  of  in  fcripture  as  fuch  a 
dreadful  fin,  fc  provoking  to  God,  and  what  brings  greater  guilt 
than  the  fins  of  the  woril  of  the  heathen,  who  never  heard  of 
thofe  things,  nor  have  had  this  Saviour  offered  to  them, 

II.  What  has  been  faid,  affords  matter  of  reproof  to  thofe 
rl*'iivho,  initcad  of  believing  in  Chrid,  trufl  in  themfelves  for  fal- 
vation.  It  is  a  common  thing  with  men  to  take  It  upon  them- 
felves to  purchafe  falva-tlon  for  themfelves,  and  fo  to  do  that 
great  work  which  Chrid  came  into  the  world  to  do.  ^  Are  there 
none  fuch  here  who  trufh  In  their  prayers,  and  their  good  con- 
vcrfations,  and  the  pains  they  take  in  religion,  and  the  reform- 
ation of  their  lives,  and  in  their  felf  denial,  to  recommend  them 
to  God,  to  make  fome  atonement  for  their  pad  fins,  and  to  draw 
the  heart  of  God  to  them  ? 
Confider  three  things  : 

1.  How  great  a  thing  that  is  which  you  take  upon  you. 
You  take  upon  you  to  do  the  work  of  the  great  Saviour  of  the 
world.  You  truft  in  your  own  dojngs  to  appeafe  God  for  your 
fins,  and  to  incline  the  heart  of  God  to  you.  Though  you  are 
poor,  worthlefs,  vile,  polluted  worms  of  the  dufl ;  yet  fo  arro- 
gant are  you,  that  you  take  upon  you  that  very  work,  that  the 
only  begotten  Son  of  God  did  when  upon  earth,  and  that  he 
became  man  to  capacitate  himfelf  for,  and  In  order  to  which 
God  fpent  four  thoufand  years  in  all  the  great  difpenfatlons  of 
his  providence  in  the  government  of  the  world,  aiming  chiefly 
at  this,  to  make  way  for  Chrid's  coming  to  do  this  work.  This 
is  the  work  that  you  take  upon  yourfelf,   arid  foolifhly  think 

yourfelf 


Impr.  1.       W  O  R  K   OF   R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  201 

yourfelf  fufficient  for  it ;  as  though  your  prayers,  and  other 
performances,  were  excellent  enough  for  this  purpofe.  Confid- 
er  how  vain  is  the  thought  which  you  entertain  of  yourfelf. 
How  muft  fuch  arrogance  appear  in  the  fight  of  Chrift,  whom 
it  coll  fo  much  to  make  a  purchafe  of  falvation,  when  it  was 
not  to  be  obtained  even  by  him,  fo  great  and  glorious  a  perfon, 
at  a  cheaper  rate  than  his  wading  through  a  fea  of  blood,  and 
pafling  through  the  midft  of  the  furnace  of  God's  wrath.  And 
how  vain  muft  your  arrogance  appear  in  the. fight  of  God, 
when  he  fees  you  imagining  yourfelf  fufhcient,  and  your  worth- 
lefs,  polluted  performances  excellent  enough  for  the  accomplifh- 
ing  of  that  work  of  his  own  Son,  to  prepare  the  way  for  which 
he  was  employed  in  ordering  all  the  great  affairs  of  the  world 
for  fo  many  ages ! 

2.  If  there  be  ground  for  you  to  trufl,  as  you  do,  in  your 
own  righteoufaefs,  then  all  that  Chrift  did  to  purchafe  falvation 
when  on  earth,  and  all  that  God  did  from  the  firft  fall  of  man 
to  that  time  to  prepare  the  way  for  it,  is  in  vain.  Your  felf 
righteoufnefs  charges  God  with  the  greateft  folly,  as  though  he 
tias  done  all  things  in  vain,  even  fo  much  in  vain,  that  he  has 
done  all  this  to  bring  about  an  accomplifhment  of  that  which 
you  alone,  a  little  worm,  with  your  poor  polluted  prayers,  and 
the  little  pains  you  take  in  religion,  mingled  with  all  that  hyr! 
pocrify  and  filthinefs,  are  fufficient  to  accomplifti  for  yourfelE 
without  Chrift's  help.  For  if  you  can  appeafe  God's  anger, 
and  can  commend  yourfelf  to  God  by  thefe  means,  then  you 
have  no  need  of  Chrift ;  but  he  is  dead  in  vain ;  Gal.  ii.  21. 
"  If  righteoufnefs  come  by  the  law,  then  Chrift  is  dead  in  vain." 

If  you  can  do  this  by  your  prayers  and  good  works,  Chrift 
might  have  fpared  his  pains ;  he  might  have  fpared  his  blood  ; 
he  might  have  kept  within  the  bofom  of  his  Father,  without 
coming  down  into  this  evil  world  to  be  defpifed,  reproached^ 
and  perfecuted  to  death ;  and  God  needed  not  have  bufied  him- 
felf,  as  he  did  for  four  thoufand  years  together,  caufing  fo  many 
changes  in  the  ftate  of  the  world  all  that  while,  in  order  to  the 
bringing  about  that  which  you,  as  little  as  you  are,  can  accom- 
plifti in  a  few  days,  only  with  the  trouble  of  a  few  fighs>  and 
groans,  and  prayers,  and  fome  other  religious  performances. 
Confider  with  yourfelf  what  greater  folly  couid  you  have  dc- 
vifed  to  charge  upon  God  than  this,  to  do  all  thofe  things  be- 
fore and  after  Chrift  eamc  into  the  world  fo  needlefsly ;  when^ 
5  b  inftead 


£02 


A    HISTORY    OF  THS  Period  11. 


inftcad  of  all  this,  he  might  have  called  you  forth,  and  commit- 
ted the  bufinefs  to  you,  which  you  think  you  can  do  fo  eafily, 

.Alas!  how  blind  are  natural  men!  how  fottifii  are  the 
thoughts  they  have  of  things  !  and  efpecially  how  vain  are  the 
thoughts  which  they  have  of  themfelves !  How  ignorant  of 
their  own  littlenefs  and  pollution  I  How  do  they  exalt  them- 
felves up  to  heaven  !  What  great  things  do  they  affume  to 
themfelves ! 

3.  You  that  truft  to  your  own  righteoufnels,  arrogate  to  your* 
felvcs  thehondur  of  the  greatefl  thing  that  ever  God. himfelf 
did ;  not  only  as  if  you  were  fufiicient  to  perform  divine 
works,  and  to  accomplifh  fome  of  the  great  works  of  God ;  but 
fuch  is  your  pride  and  vanity,  that  you  are  not  content  without 
taking  upon  you  to  do  the  very  greateft  work  that  ever  God 
himfelf  wrought,  even  the  work  of  redemption.  You  fee  by 
what  has  been  faid,  how  God  has  fubordinated  all  his  other 
works  to  this  work  of  redemption.  You  fee  how  God's  work$ 
pf  providence  are  greater  than  his  works  of  creation,  and  that 
all  God's  works  of  providence,  from  the  beginning  of  the  gen« 
crations  of  men,  were  in  order  to  this,  to  make  way  for  ^th<^ 
purchafmg  of  redemption.  But  this  is  what  you  take  upoji 
yourfelf.  To  take  on  yourfelf  to  work  out  redemption,  is  a 
greater  thing  than  If  you  had  taken  it  upon  you  to  create  a 
world.  Confider  with  yourfelf  what  a  figure  you  a  poor  wornj 
■would  make,  if  you  fhould  ferioufly  go  about  to  create  fuch  a 
world  as  God  did,  fhould  fwell  in  your  own  conceit  of  your- 
felf, Ihould  deck  yourfelf  with  majcfly,  pretend  to  fpeak  thes 
word  of  powpr,  and  call  an  univerfc  out  of  nothing,  intending 
to  go  on  in  order,  and  fay,  "  Let  there  be  light ;  Let  there  be 
a  firniament,"  &c.  But  then  conRder,  that  in  attempting  to 
work  out  redemption  yourfelf,  you  attempt  a  greater  thing  than 
this,  and  are  ferious  in  it,  and  will  not  be  beat  ofF  from  it,  but  flrivc 
in  it,  and  are  fuU  of  the  thought  of  yourfelf  that  you  are  fuffi- 
cient  for  it,  and  always  big  with  hopes  of  accompli fhing  it. 

You  take  upon  you  to  do  the  very  greateft  and  moll  difficult 
part  of  this  work,  viz.  to  purchafe  redemption.  Chrift  can 
accomplifh  other  parts  of  this  work  without  coft,  without 
any  trouble  and  difficulty  :  But  this  part  coft  him  his  life,  as 
"Well  as  innumerable  pains  and  labours,  with  very  great  ignominy 
and  contempt  befides.  Yet  this  is  that  part  which  felf  righte- 
ous perfons  go  about  to  accomplifh  for  themfelves.    If  all  the 

angels 


Impr.  1.      WORK   of    REDEMPTION,  263 

angels  in  heaven  had  been  fufficient  for  this  work,  ^  Would  God 
have  fet  himfelf  to  effe6l  fuch  things  as  he  did  in  order  to  it, 
before  he  fient  his  Son  into  the  world  ?  And,  ^  Would  he  evef 
have  fent  his  own  Son,  the  great  Creator  and  God  of  the  stit- 
gels,  into  the  world,  to  have  done  and  fuffered  fuch  things  ? 

What  felf  righteous  perfons  take  to  themfelvcs,  is  the  fame 
work  that  Chrifl  was  engaged  in  when  he  was  in  his  agony  and 
bloody  fweat,  and  when  he  died  on  the  crofs,  which  was  the 
greateft  thing  that  ever  the  eyes  of  angels  beheld.  This,  as 
great  as  it  is,  they  imagine  they  can  do  the  fame  that  Chrift  ac* 
complifhed  by  it.  Their  felf  righteoufnefs  does  in  effeft  charge 
Chrift's  offering  up  himfelf  in  thefe  fufferings,  as  the  grcatefl 
inftance  of  folly  that  ever  men  or  angels  faw,  inftead  of  being 
the  moft  glorious  difplay  of  the  divine  wifdom  and  grace  that 
ever  was  leen,  Yea,  felf  righteoufnefs  makes  all  that  Chrift 
did  through  the  whole  courfe  of  his  life,  and  all  that  he  faid 
and  fuffered  through  that  whole  time,  and  his  incarnation  it- 
felf,  and  not  only  fo,  but  all  that  God  had  been  doing  in  the 
great  difpenfations  of  his  providence  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  that  time,  as  all  nothing,  but  a  fcene  of  the  mofl  wild, 
and  extreme,  and  tranfcendent  folly. 

ji  Is  it  any  wonder,  then,  that  a  felf  righteous  fpirit  is  fo  rep- 
lefented  in  fcripture,  and  fpoken  of,  as  that  which  is  mofl  fatal 
to  the  fouls  of  men  ?  And,  ^  Is  it  any  wonder,  that  Chrifl  is 
reprefented  in  fcripture  as  being  fo  provoked  with  the  Pharifces 
and  others,  who  trufted  in  themfelves  that  they  were  righteous, 
and  were  proud  of  their  goodnefs,  and  thought  that  their  owr 
performances  were  a  valuable  price  of  God's  favour  and  love? 

Let  perfons  hence  be  warned  again  ft  a  felf  righteous  fpirit. 
You  that  are  leeking  your  falvation,  and  taking  pains  in  relig- 
ion, take  heed  to  yourfelves  that  you  do  not  truft  in  what  you 
do  ;  that  you  do  not  harbour  any  fuch  thoughts ;  that  God  now, 
feeing  how  much  you  are  reformed,  how  you  take  pains  in  re- 
ligion, and  how  you  are  fometiraes  affefted,  will  be  pacified  to- 
wards you  with  refpeO;  to  your  fins,  and  on  account  of  it  will 
not  be  fo  angry  for  your  former  fins ;  and  that  you  fhall  gain 
on  him  by  fuch  things,  and  draw  his  heart  to  fhow  you  mercy ; 
or  at  leaft  that  God  ought  to  accept  of  what  you  do,  fo  as  to  be 
inclined  by  it  in  fome  meafure  to  forgive  you,  and  have  mercy 
on  you.  If  you  entertain  this  thought,  that  God  is  obliged  to 
do  it,  and  does  not  aft  juflly  if  he  refufe  to  regard  your  prayers 

and 


204  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    Of  THE         Period  11. 

and  pains,  and  fo  quarrel  with  God,  and  complain  of  him  for 
not  doing,  this  fhows  what  your  opinion  is  of  your  own  right- 
CDufnefs,  viz.  that  it  is  a  valuable  price  of  falvation,  and  ought 
to  be  accepted  of  God  as  fuch.  Such  complaining  of  God,  and 
quarrelling  with  him,  for  not  taking  more  notice  of  your  right- 
eoufnefs,  plainly  fhows  that  you  are  guilty  of  all  that  arrogance 
that  has  been  fpoken  of,  thinking  yourfelf  fufficicnt  to  offer  the 
price  of  your  own  falvation, 

III.  What  has  been  faid  on  this  fubjeiStj  affords  matter  of  re- 
proof to  thofe  who  carelcfsly  negleft  the  falvation  of  Chrift  ; 
fuch  as  live  a  fenfelefs  kind  of  life,  neglefting  the  bufincfs  of 
religion  and  their  own  fouls  for  the  prefent,  not  taking  any 
courfe  to  get  an  interell  in  Chrift,  or  what  he  has  done  and  fuf- 
fered,  or  any  p^rt  in  that  glorious  falvation  he  has  purchafed  by 
that  price,  but  rather  have  their  minds  taken  up  about  the  gains 
ipf  the  world,  or  about  the  vanities  and  pleafures  of  youth,  and 
£b  make  light  of  what  they  hear  from  time  to  time  of  Chrifl's 
falvation,  that  they  do  not  at  prefent  fo  much  as  feek  after  it* 
Let  me  here  apply  ipyfelf  to  you  iri  fome  expollulatory  interro* 
gallons,. 

J .  jj  Shall  fo  many  prophets,  and  kings,  and  righteous  men, 
have  their  minds  fo  much  taken  up  with  the  profpeft,  that  the 
purchafe  of  falvation  was  to  be  wrought  out  in  ages  long  after 
their  death  ;  and  will  you  negle£t  it  when  a6lually  accom- 
plifhed  ?  You  have  heard  what  great  account  the  church  in  all 
ages  made  of  the  future  redemption  of  Chrifl ;  how  joyfully 
they  expe£led  it,  how  they  fpoke  of  it,  how  they  ftudied  and 
iearched  into  thefe  things,  how  they  fung  joyful  fongs,  and  had 
their  hearts  greatly  engaged  about  it,  and  yet  never  expefted  to 
fee  it  done,  and  did  not  cxpe£b  that  it  would  be  accomplifiicd 
ui>til  rnany  ages  after  their  death,  i  Pet.  i,  lo,  ii,  12.  How 
much  did  Ifaiah  and  Daniel,  and  other  prophets,  fpcak  concern- 
ing this  redemption  !  And  how  much  were  their  hearts  engaged, 
and  their  attention  and  lludy  fixed  upon  it !  How  was  David's 
mind  taken  up  in  this  fubjeft !  He  declared  that  it  was  all  his 
falvation,  and  all  his  dcfire;  2  Sam.  xxiii,  5.  How  did  he  em- 
ploy his  voice  and  harp  in  celebrating  it,  and  the  glorious  dif- 
play  of  divine  grace  therein  exhibited  !  and  all  this  although 
they  beheld  it  not  as  yet  accomplilhed,  but  faw  that  it  was  to 
be  brought  to  pafs  fo  long  ^  time  after  their  day.— And  before 
this,   how  did  Abraham  and  the  other  patriarchs  rejoice  in  the 

profpcft 


Impr.  1.     WORK    op    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  tos 

profpcft  of  Chrifl's  day,  and  the  redemption  which  he  was  to 
purchafe  !  And  even  the  faints  before  the  flood  were  affetled 
and  elated  in  the  expectation  of  this  glorious  event,  though  it 
was  then  fo  long  future,  and  it  was  fo  very  faintly  and  obfcure- 
iy  revealed  to  them. 

Now  thcfe  things  are  declared  to  you  as  a£lually  fulfilled. 
The  church  now  h«is  feen  accomplilhed  all  thofe  great  things 
which  they  fo  joyfully  prophefied  of  ;  and  you  are  abundantly 
fliown  how  thofe  things  were  accompliflicd  ;  Matth.  xiii.  17, 
<«  Verily  I  fay  unto  you,  that  many  prophets  and  righteous  men 
have  deCred  to  fee  thofe  things  which  ye  fee,  and  have  not 
feen  ;  and  to  hear  thofe  things  which  ye  hear,  and  have  not 
heard  them.*'  And  yet,  when  thefe  things  arc  thus  abundantly 
fet  before  you  as  already  accompliftied,  how  do  you  flight  them  1 
How  light  do  you  make  of  thsm  !  How  little  are  they  taken 
notice  of  by  you  !  How  unconcerned  are  you  about  them,  fol- 
lowing other  things,  and  not  fo  much  as  feeling  any  interefl  in 
them  !  Indeed  your  fin  is  extremely  aggravated  in  the  fight  of 
God,  God  has  put  you  under  great  advantages  for  your  eternal 
falvation,  far  greater  thas  thofe  faints  of  old  enjoyed.  He  haj» 
put  you  under  a  more  glorious  difpenfation  ;  has  given  you  a 
more  clear  revelation  of  Chrifl  and  his  falvation  ;  and  yet  you 
negleft  all  thefe  advantages,  and  go  on  in  a  carelefs  courfe  of 
life,  as  though  nothing  had  been  done,  no  fuch  propofals  and 
offers  had  been  made  you. 

2,  ^  Have  the  angels-  been  fo  engaged  about  this  falvation 
which  is  by  Chrill  ever  fmce  the  fall  of  man,  though  they  are 
not  immediately  concerned  in  it,  and  will  you  who  need  it,  and 
have  it  offered  to  you,  be  fo  carelefs  about  it  ?  You  have  heard 
haw  the  angels  at  firfl  were  fubje£led  to  Chrifl  as  mediator,  and 
how  they  have  all  along  been  miniflering  fpirits  to  him  in  this 
affair.  In  all  the  great  difpenfations  which  you  have  heard  of 
from  the  beginning  of  the  world,  they  have  been  aftive  and  as 
a  flame  of  fire  in  this  affair,  being  moft  diligently  employed  as 
miniflering  fpirits  to  minifler  to  Chrifl  in  this  great  affair  of 
man's  redemption.  And  when  Chrifl  came,  how  engaged  were 
their  minds  !  They  came  to  Zacharias,  to  inform  him  of  the 
coming  of  Chrifl's  forerunner  ;  They  came  to  the  Virgin  Mar>', 
to  inform  her  of  the  approaching  birth  of  Chrifl  :  They  came 
to  Jofeph,  to  warn  him  of  the  danger  which  threatened  the 
Xicvv'born  S^aviour,  and  to  point  out  to  him  the  means  of  fafcty. 

And 


ioS  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  II. 

And  how  were  their  minds  engaged  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of 
Chrill  I  The  whole  multitude  of  the  heavenly  hofl  fang  praifes 
upon  the  occafion,  faying,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the  higheft,  and 
on  earth  peace,  and  good  will  towards  men.'*  And  afterwards, 
from  time  to  time,  they  miniflered  to  Chrift  when  on  earth  ; 
they  did  fo  at  the  time  of  his  temptation,  at  the  time  of  his  ag- 
ony in  the  garden,  at  his  refurrection,  and  at  his  afcenfion.  All 
thcfe  things  (how,  that  they  were  greatly  engaged  in  this  affair  ; 
and  the  fcripturc  informs  us,  that  they  pry  into  thefe  things  : 
i  Pet.  i,  1 2.  "  Which  things  the  angels  defire  to  look  into." 
And  how  are  they  reprefented  in  the  Revelation  as  being  em- 
ployed in  heaven  in  fmging  praifes  to  him  that  fittcth  on  the 
throne,  and  to  the  Lamb  !  Now,  ^  Shall  thefe  take  fo  much 
notice  of  this  redemption,  and  of  the  purchafer,  who  need  it 
not  for  themfelves,  and  have  no  immediate  concern  or  intferefl 
in  it,  or  offer  of  it  ;  and  will  you,  to  whom  it  is  offered,  and 
who  are  in  fuch  extreme  necefiity  of  it,  negleft  and  take  no  no- 
tice of  it  ? 

3.  ^  Was  it  worth  the  while  for  Chrifl  to  labour  fo  hard, 
and  do  and  fufFer  fo  much  to  procure  this  falvation,  and  is  it 
not  worth  the  while  for  you  to  be  at  fome  labour  in  feeking  it  ? 
J  Was  it  a  thing  of  fo  great  importance,  that  falvation  fhouM 
be  procured  for  linners,  as  that  it  was  worthy  to  lie  with  fuch 
weight  on  the  mind  of  Chrifl,  as  to  induce  him  to  become  man, 
and  to  fuffer  fuch  contempt  and  labour,  and  even  death  itfelf,  in 
order  to  procure  it,  though  he  flood  in  need  of  nothing,  though 
he  was  like  to  gain  no  addition  to  his  eternal  happinels,  though 
he  could  get  nothing  by  thofe  that  he  faved,  though  he  did  not 
need  them  ;  was  it  of  fuch  importance  that  finners  fhould  be 
favcd,  that  he  might  properly  be  induced  to  fubmit  to  fuch  hu- 
miliation and  fuffering  ;  and  yet  is  it  not  worth  the  while  for 
you,  who  are  one  of  thofe  miferable  finners  that  need  this  falva- 
tion, and  muft  perifh  eternally  without  it,  to  take  earncft  pains 
to  obtain  an  intereft  in  it  after  it  is  procured,  and  all  things  arc 
ready  ? 

4.  jj  Shall  the  great  God  be  fo  concerned  about  this  falvation, 
as  fo  often  to  overturn  the  world  to  make  way  for  it  ;  and  when 
all  is  done,  is  it  not  worth  your  feeking  after  ?  How  has  the 
l,ord  of  heaven  and  earth  been  as  it  were  engaged  about  this 
affair  !  What  great,  what  wonderful  things  has  he  done  from 
one  age  to  another,  removing  kings,   and  fetting  up  kings,   raif- 


Impr.  I.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  soy 

ing  up  a  great  number  of  prophets,  feparating  a  diftinft  nation 
from  the  reft  of  the  world,  overturning  one  nation  and  kingdom, 
and  another,  and  often  overturning  the  ftate  of  the  world  ;  and 
fo  has  continued  bringing  about -one  change  and  revolution  after 
another  for  forty  centuries  in  fuccefiion,  to  make  way  for  the 
procuring  of  this  falvation  !  And  when  he  has  done  all  ;  i^nd 
when,  at  the  clofe  of  thcfe  ages,  the  great  Saviour  comes,  and, 
becoming  incarnate,  and  paffing  through  a  long  feries  of  reproach 
and  fuffering,  and  then  fufFering  all  the  waves  and  billows  of 
God's  wrath  for  men's  fins,  infomuch  that  they  overwhelmed 
his  foul  ;  after  all  thefe  things  done  to  procure  falvation  for  fin- 
ners,  ^  Is  it  not 'worthy  of  your  taking  [o  much  notice  of,  or 
being  fo  much  concerned  about,  though  you  are  thofe  perfons 
who  need  this  falvation,  but  that  it  fhould  be  thrown  by,  and 
made  nothing  of,  in  comparifon  of  worldly  gain,  or  gay  cloth- 
ing, or  youthful  diverfions,  or  other  fuch  trifling  things  ? 

O  !  that  you  who  live  negligent  of  this  falvation,  would  con- 
fider  what  you  do  !   What   you  have  heard  from  this  fubje6l, 
may  fliow   you  what  rcafon   there  is  in  that  exclamation  of  the 
Apoltle,  Heb,  ii.  3.  "  ^  How   fhall  we  efcape  if  we  negleft  fo 
great  falvation  ?"  and  in  that,  A6ls  xiii.  41.  *=•  Behold,  ye  def- 
pifers,    and   wonder,  and  perifh  ;  for  I  work   a  work  in  your 
days,    a  work  which  you  fhall   in  no  wife  believe,  though  a 
man  declare  it  unto  you."     God  looks  on  fuch  as   you  as   great 
enemies  of  the  crofs  of  Chrift,   and  adverfaries  and  defpifers  of 
all  the  glory  of  this  great  work.     And  if  God  has  made  fuch  ac- 
count of  the  glory  of  falvation  as  to  deftroy  many  nations,   and 
fo  often  overturn  all  nations,  to  prepare  the  way  for   the  glory 
of  his  Son  in  this  affair  ;  ^  How  little  account  will  he  make  of 
the  lives  and  fouls  of  ten  thoufand  fuch  oppofers  and  defpifers 
as  you  that  continue  impenitent,  in   comparifon  of  that   glory, 
•when  he  fhall  hereafter  come  and  find  that  your  welfare  ftands 
in  the  way  of  that  glory  ?  Why  furely  you  fhall  be  dafhed  to 
pieces  as  a  potter's  vefTel,  and  trodden  down  as  the  mire  of  the 
ftreets,     God  may,  through  wonderful  patience,  bear  with  hard- 
ened carelefs  finners  for  a  while  ;  but  he  will  not  long  bear  with 
fuch  defpifers  of  his  dear  Son,  and  his  great  falvation,  the  glory 
of  which  he  has  had  fo  much  at  heart,  before  he  will  utterly  con- 
fume  without  remedy  or  mercy. 


2Q«  A    HISTORY     or    the  Period  IL 

ScBion  IL 

I  WILL  conclude  with  a  fccond  ufe,  of  encouragement  to  bur- 
dened fouls  to  put  their  truft  in  Chrift  for  falvation.  To  all 
fuch  as  are  not  carelefs  and  negligent,  but  do  make  fecking  an 
interefl  in  Chrift  their  main  bufniefs,  being  feiifible  in  fomc 
meafure  of  their  neceflity  of  an  intcreft  in  Chrift,  being  afraid 
of  the  wrath  to  come  ;  to  fuch  what  has  been  faid  on  this  fub- 
je6l  holds  forth  great  matter  of  encouragement,  to  come  and  ven- 
ture their  fouls  on  the  Lord  Jefus  Chrift  :  And  as  motives  prop- 
er to  excite  you  fo  to  do,  let  me  lead  you  to  confider  two  things 
in  particular. 

1,  The  completenefs  of  the  purchafe  which  has  been  made. 
As  you  have  heard,  this  work  ®f  purchafmg  falvation  was 
v/hoUy  finilhed  during  the  time  of  Chrift's  humiliation.  When 
Chrift  rofe  from  the  dead,  and  was  exalted  from  that  abafement 
to  which  he  fubmitted  for  our  falvation,  the  purchafe  of  eternal 
life  was  completely  made,  fo  that  there  was  no  need  of  any 
thing  more  to  be  done  in  order  to  it.  But  now  the  fervants 
were  fent  forth  with  the  meflage  which  we  have  account  of  in 
Matth.  xxiji.  4.  *'  Behold,  I  have  prepared  my  dinner  :  My  ox- 
en and  my  fallings  are  killed,  and  all  things  arc  ready  :  Come 
unto  the  marriage,'*  Therefore  all  things  being  ready,  ^  Arc 
your  fins  many  and  great  ?  Here  is  enough  done  by  Chrift  to 
procure  their  pardon.  There  is  no  need  of  any  righteoufnefs 
of  yours  to  obtain  your  pardon  and  juftification  :  No,  you  may 
come  freely,  without  mt)ney  and  without  price.  Since  there- 
fore there  is  fuch  a  free  and  gracious  invitation  given  you, 
come  ;  come  naked  as  you  are  ;  come  as  a  poor  condemned 
criminal  ;  come  and  caft  yourfelf  down  at  Chrift's  feet,  as  one 
juftly  condemned,  and  utterly  helplefs  in  yourfelf.  Here  is  a 
complete  falvation  wrought  out  by  (S)hrift,  and  through  him  of- 
fered to  you.     Come,  therefore,  accept  of  it,  and  be  faved, 

2.  For  Chrift  to  rejeft  one  that  thus  comes  to  him,  would  be 
to  fruftrate  all  tliofc  great  things  which  you  have  heard  that 
God  brought  to  pafs  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  incarnation  qt 
Chrift.  It  would  alfo  fruftrate  all  that  Chrift  did  and  fuffered 
while  on  earth  ;  yea,  it  would  fruftrate  the  incarnation  of  Chrift 
itfelf  ;  and  all  the  great  things  dorre  in  preparation  for  his  in- 
carnatioijf ;  for  all   thefe  things  were   for  that  end,  that  thofn 

misht 


Impr.  2.         WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         209 

might  be  faved  who  Ihould  come  to  Chrift.  Therefore  you  may 
be  fure  Chrift  will  not  be  backward  in  faving  thofe  who  come 
to  him,  and  truft  in  him  :  For  he  has  no  defire  to  fruftrate  him- 
felf  in  his  own  work  ;  it  cofl  him  too  dear  for  that.  Neither 
will  God  the  Father  refufe  you  ;  for  he  has  no  defire  to  fruf- 
trate himfclf  in  all  that  he  did  for  fo  many  hundreds  and  thou- 
fands  of  years,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  falvation  of  finners 
by  Chrill.  Come,  therefore,  hearken  to  the  fweet  and  earneft; 
calls  of  Chrift  to  your  foul.  Do  as  he  invites,  and  as  he  com- 
mands you,  Matth,  xi.  28,  29,  30.  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 
labour,  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  reft.  Take 
my  yoke  upon  you,  and  learn  of  the  ;  and  ye  (hall  find  reft  un- 
to your  fouls.     For  my  yoke  is  eafy,  and  my  burden  is  light.'* 


C  c  PERldP 


£10  A    H  1  S  T  O  R  Y     OF  THE  Period  III, 


PERIOD         IIL 


I 


N  difcourfing  on  this  fubjcclj  we  have  already 
ihown  how  the  work  of  redemption  was  carried  on  through  the 
two  firft  of  the  three  periods  into  which  we  divided  the  whole 
fpace  of  time  from  the  fall  to  the  end  of  the  world  ,  and  wc 
are  now  come  to 

The  third  and  lafl  period,  beginning  with  Chrifl*s  refurrec- 
tion,  and  "  reaching  to  the  end  of  the  world  ;  and  would  now 
fhow  how  this  work  was  alfo"  carried  on  through  this  period, 
from  this 

PropofitioHj  Thai  the /pace  of  time  from  the  end  of  Chrift's  humil- 
iation  to  the  end  of  the  world,  is  all  taken  up  in  bringing  about  the  great 
cfftEi  orfuccefs  of  Chriji's  purchafe. 

Not  but  that  there  were  great  efFe£ls  and  glorious  fucccfs  of 
Chrift's  purchafe  of  redemption  before,  even  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  generations  of  men.  But  all  that  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's 
redemption  which  was  before,  was  only  preparatory,  and  was 
by  way  of  anticipation,  as  fome  few  fruits  are  gathered  before 
the  harvefl.  There  was  no  more  fuccefs  before  Chrifl  came 
than  God  faw  needful  to  prepare  the  way  for  his  coming.  The 
proper  time  of  the  fuccefs  or  effect  of  Chrifl's  purchafe  of  re- 
demption is  after  the  purchafe  has  been  made,  as  the  proper 
time  for  the  world  to  enjoy  the  light  of  the  fun  is  the  day  time, 
after  the  fun  is  rifen,  though  we  may  have  fome  fmall  matter  of 
it  refleded  from  the  moon  and  planets  before.  And  even  the 
fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption  while  he  himfelf  was  on  earth, 
was  very  fmall  in  comparifon  of  what  it  was  after  the  conclufion 
of  his  humiliation. 

But  Chrift  having  finifhed  that  greateft  and  mofl  difficult  of 
all  works,  the  work  of  the  purchafe  of  redemption,  now  is  come 
the  time  for  obtaining  the  end  of  it,  the  glorious  efPeft  of  it. 
This  is  the  next  work  he  goes  about.  Having  gone  through 
the  whole  courfe  of  his  fufferings  and  humiliation,  there  is  an 
end  to  all  things  of  that  nature  :  He  is  never  to  fufFer  any  more. 
But  now  is  the  time  for  him  to  obtain  the  joy  that  was  fet  be- 
fore him.    Having  made  his  foul  an  offering  for  fin,  now  is  the 

'  time 


Intr.  WORK    of    REDEMPTION,  21s 

time   for  him  to  fee  his  feed,  and  to  have  a  portion  divided  to 
him  with  the  great,  and  to  divide  the  fpoil  with  the  ftrong. 

One  defio-n  of  Chrifl  in  what  he  did  in  his  humiliation,  was 
to  lay  a  foundation  for  the  overthrow  of  Satan's  kingdom  ;  and 
now  is  come  the  time  to  effect  it,  as  Chrifl,  a  little  before  his 
crucifixion,  faid,  John  xii.  31.  "  Now  is  the  judgment  of  this 
world  ;  now  fiiall  the  prince  of  this  world  be  call  out."  An- 
other defign  was,  to  gather  together  in  one  all  things  in  Chrift, 
Now  is  come  the  time  for  this  alfo  :  John  xii,  32.  *'  And  I,  if 
I  be  lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me  ;"  which  is  agreeable 
to  Jacob's  prophecy  of  Chrift,  that  when  "  Shiloh  (liould  come, 
to  him  fhould  the  gathering  of  the  people  be,"  Gen,  xlix,  10, 
Another  defign  is  the  falvation  of  the  eleft.  Now  when  his 
fufferings  are  finiHied,  and  his  humiliation  is  perfefted,  the  time 
is  come  for  that  alfo  :  Heb.  v.  8,  9.  "  Though  he  v/ere  a  Son, 
yet  learned  he  ob«dience  by  the  things  which  he  fuffered  :  And 
being  made  perfe£l,  he  became  the  author  of  eternal  falvation 
unto  all  them  that  obey  him.'*  Another  defign  was,  to  accom- 
plifh  by  thefe  things  great  glory  to  the  perfons  of  the  Trinity. 
Now  alfo  is  come  the  time  for  that  :  John  xvii.  1.  "  Father, 
the  hour  is  come  ;  glorify  thy  Son,  that  thy  Son  alfo  may  glo- 
rify thee,"  Another  defign  was  the  glory  of  the  faints.  Now 
is  the  time  alfo  for  this  ;  John  xvii.  2.  "  As  thou  haft  given 
him  power  over  all  flcfh,  that  he  fhould  give  eternal  life  to  as 
many  as  thou  haft  given  him,"  And  all  the  difpenfations  of 
God's  providence  henceforward,  even  to  the  final  confumma- 
tion  of  all  things,  are  to  give  Chrift  his  reward,  and  fulfil  his 
end  in  what  he  did  and  fuffered  upon  earth,  and  to  fulfil  the 
joy  that  was  fet  before  him, 

INTRODUCTION. 

BEFORE  I  enter  on  the  confideration  of  any  particular 
things  accomplifhed  in  this  period,  I  would  briefly  obferve  foms 
things  in  general  concerning  it  ;  and  particularly  how  th© 
times  of  this  period  are  reprefented  in  fcripture, 

I.  The  times  of  this  period,  for  the  moft  part,  are  thofc 
which  in  the  Old  Teftament  are  called  the  latter  days,.  We 
often,  in  the  prophets  of  the  Old  Teftament,  read  of  fuch  and 
fuch  things  that  fhould  come  to  pals  in  the  latter  days^  and  fomc- 
times  in  the  laji  days.     Now  thefe  exprcfTions  of  the  prophets 

are 


2J2 


A    HISTORY    OF  THE  Period  III. 


are  mofl:  commonly  to  be  underftood  of  the  times  of  the  period 
that  we  are  now  upon.  They  are  called  the  latter  days,  and  the 
lajl  days  j  becaufe  this  is  the  laft  period  of  the  feries  of  God's 
providences  on  earth,  the  laft  period  of  that  great  work  of  prov- 
idence, the  work  of  redemption  ;  which  is  as  it  were  the  fum 
of  God's  works  of  providence,  the  time  wherein  the  church  i$ 
under  the  laft  difpenfation  of  the  covenant  of  grace  that  ever  it 
will  be  under  on  earth. 

II,  The  whole  time  of  this  period  is   fometimes  in   fcripture 
.called  the  e7id  of  the  zvorld,   as,    i  Cor,  x.  ij.  "  Now   all    thefe 
things  happened  unto  them  for  enfamples  :  And  they  are  writ* 
ten  for  our  admonition,  upon  whom  the  ends  of  the  world    are 
come.''     And  the  Apoftle,  Heb.  ix»  26.  in   this   expreflion  of 
ike  end  of  the  worlds  ijieans  the  whole  of  the  gofpel  day,  from  the 
birth  of  Chrift  to  the  finifhing  of  the  day  of  judgment  :  '<  But 
now  once  in  the  end  of  the   world,  hath   he  appeared,   to   put 
away  fin  by  the  facrifice  of  himfelf,"     This  fpace  of  time  may 
well  be  called  the  end  of  the  world  ;  for  this  whole  time  is  taken 
up  in  bringing  things  to  their  great  end  and  iffue,    to  that  great 
ifTue  that  God  had  been  preparing  the  way  for,   in  all  the  great 
difpenfations  of  providence,  from  the  firfl  fall  of   man  to   this 
time.     Before,  things  were  in  a  kind  of  preparatory  ftate  ;  but 
now   they  are   in    a   finifhing  flate.     It  is   the  winding   up    of 
things  which  is  all  this  while  accomplifhing.     An  end   is    now 
brought  to  the  forrner  carnal  ftatc  of  things,  which  by  degrees 
vaniftics,  and  a  fpiritual  flate  begins  to  be  eftablifhed,  and  to  be 
eftablifhed  more  and  rnore,     Firft,   an  end   is  brought  to  the 
former  flate  of  the  church,    which  may  be  called   its  worldly 
ilate,  the  flate  wherein   it  was  fubje£l  to  carnal  ordinances,  and 
the  rudiments  of  the  world  :  And   then  an  end  is  brought  to 
the  Jewifh  flate,   in  the  deflru6lion  of  their  city  and  country  ; 
And  then,  after  that,    an  end  is  brought  to  the  old  heathen  em^ 
pire  in  Conllantine's  time  ;  which  is  another  and  further  degree 
of   the    winding    up    and    finifhing    of   the    world :  And    tht 
next  flep   is  the  finifhing  of  Satan's  vifible   kingdom  in  the 
world,   upon  the   fall   of  Antichrifl,   and  the    calling  of   the 
Jews  :  And  lafl  will  cdme  the  de{lru£tion  of  the  outward  frame 
of  the  world  itfelf,  at  the    concluuon  of  the  day  of  judgment. 
But  the  world  is  all  this  while    as  it  were  a  finifhing,    though 
it  comes  to  an  end  by  feveral  fleps   and  degrees.     Heaven  and 
earth  began  to  ffeake,  in  order  to  a  difToIiition,  according  to  the 

prophecy 


Intr.  WORK    op    REDEMPTION.  213 

prophecy  of  Haggai,  before  Chrift  came,  that  fo  only  thofe 
things  that  cannot  be  fhaken  may  remain,  i.  e.  that  thofe  thinas 
that  arc  to  come  to  an  end  may  come  ,to  an  end,  and  that  only 
thofte  things  may  remain  which  are  to  remain  to  all  eternity. 

So,  in  the  firft  place,  the  carnal  ordinances  of  the  Jewifh 
worfhip  came  to  an  end,  to  make  way  for  the  eftablifhment  of 
that  fpiritual  worQiip,  the  worfhip  of  the  heart,  which  is  to  en- 
dure to  all  eternity  :  Johni  iv.  21,  "  Jefus  faith  unto  the  wom- 
an, Believe  me,  the  hour  cometh,  when  ye  fliall  neither  in  this 
mountain,  nor  yet  at  Jerufalem,  worlhip  the  Father."  VerG 
23.  "  But  the  hour  cometh,  and  now  is,  when  the  true  worfnip- 
pers  fliall  worfhip  the  Father  in  fpirit  and  in  truth  :  For  the  Fa- 
ther feeketh  fuch  to  worfnip  him.'*  This  is  one  inftance  of  the 
temporary  world's  coming  to  an  end,  and  the  eternal  world'j 
beginning.  And  then,  after  that,  the  outward  temple,  and  the 
outward  city  Jerufalem,  came  to  an  end,  to  give  place  to  the 
fetting  up  of  the  fpiritual  temple  and  the  fpiritual  city,  which 
are  to  lad  to  eternity  ;  which  is  another  inftance  of  remo^'ing 
thofe  things  which  are  ready  to  vanifii  away,  that  thofe  things 
which  cannot  be  fhaken  may  rernain.  And  then,  aftj;r  that,  the 
old  heathen  empire  comes  to  an  end,  to  make  way  for  the  em- 
pire of  Chrift,  which  fhall  lad  to  all  eternity  ;  which  is  anoth- 
er ftep  of  bringing  the  temporal  world  to  an  end,  and  of  the 
beginning  of  the  world  to  come,  which  is  an  eternal  world. 
And  after  that,  upon  the  fall  of  Antichrift,  an  end  is  put  to  Sa- 
tan's vifible  kingdom  on  earth,  to  eftablifh  Chrift's  kingdom, 
which  is  an  eternal  kingdom  ;  as  the  prophet  Daniel  fays,  chap. 
vii,  87.  *'  And  the  kingdom  and  dominion,  and  the  greatnefs  of 
the  kingdom  under  the  whole  heaven,  Ihall  be  given  to  the 
people  of  the  faints  of  the  Moft  High,  whofe  kingdom  is  an 
everlafting  kingdom,  and  all  dominions  fhall  ferve  and  obey 
him  ;"  which  is  another  inftance  of  the  ending  of  the  tempo- 
rary world,  and  the  beginning  of  the  eternal  one.  And  then, 
laftly,  the  very  frame  of  this  corruptible  world  fhall  come  to  an 
end,  to  make  way  for  the  church  to  dwell  in  another  dwelling 
place,  which  fhall  laft  to  eternity  ;  which  is  the  laft  inftance  of 
the  fame  thing. 

Becaufe  the  world  is  thus  coming  to  an  end  by  various  fleps 
and  degrees,  the  Apoftle  perhaps  ufes  this  expreflion,  that  the 
ends  of.  the  world  are  corne  on  us  ;  not  the  end  but  the  ends,   of 

the 


S14  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the         Period  III. 

the  plural  number,  as  though  the  world  has  feveral  endings  one 
after  another. 

The  gofpel  difpenfation  is  the  laft  ftate  of  things  in  the  world  ; 
and  this  ftate  is  a  finifhing  flatc  :  It  is  all  ipent  in  finifhing 
things  off  which  before  had  been  preparing,  or  abolifhing  things 
which  before  had  flood.  It  is  all  fpent  as  it  were  in  fumming 
things  up,  and  bringing  them  to  their  iffues,  and  their  proper 
fulfilment.  Now  all  the  old  types  are  fulfilled,  and  all  the 
prophecies  of  all  the  prophets  from  the  beginning  of  the  world 
ihali  be  accomplifhed  in  this  period. 

Ill,  That  ftate  of  things  which  is  attained  in  the  events  of 
this  period  is  called  a  nezo  heaven  and  a  new  earth  :  If.  Ixv.  17,  18. 
*'  For  behold,  I  create  new  heavens,  and  a  new  earth  :  And 
the  form^er  fliall  not  be  remembered,  nor  come  into  mind.  But 
be  you  glad  and  rejoice  for  ever  in  that  which  I  create  :  For 
behold,  I  create  Jerufaicm  a  rejoicing,  and  her  people  a  joy.'* 
And  ch.  Ixvi.  22.  "  For  as  the  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth 
which  I  make,  fhall  remain  before  me  ;  fo  (hall  your  feed  and 
your  name  remain."  See  alfo  ch.  li.  16.  As  the  former  ftate 
of  things,  or  the  old  world,  by  one  ftep  after  another,  is  through 
this  period  coming  to  an  end  ;  fo  the  new  ftate  of  things,  or 
the  new  world,  which  is  a  fpiritual  world,  is  beginning  and  fct- 
tlng  up. 

The  heaven  and  earth  which  are  corruptible,  are  {baking, 
that  the  new  heavens  and  new  earth,  which  cannot  be  fliaken, 
may  be  eftablifhed  and  remain. 

In  confcquence  of  each  of  thefe  finifliings  of  the  old  ftate  of 
things,  there  is  a  new  beginning  of  a  new  and  eternal  ftate  of 
things.  So  was  that  which  accompanied  the  deftruftion  of  "Je- 
rufaicm, which  was  an  eftablifliing  of  the  fpiritual  Jerufalem, 
inftead  of  the  literal.  So  with  refpecl  to  the  deftruftion  of  the 
old  heathen  empire,  and  all  t-he  other  endings  of  the  old  ftate  of 
things,  until  at  length  the  very  outward  frame  of  the  old  world 
itfelf  fhall  come  to  an  end  ;  and  the  church  fhall  dwell  in  a 
world  new  to  it,  or  to  a  great  part  of  it,  even  heaven,  which 
will  be  a  new  habitation  ;  and  then  ftiall  the  utmoft  be  accom- 
plifhed that  is  meant  by  the  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth. 
See  Rev.  xxi.  i . 

The  end  of  God's  creating  the  world  was  to  prepare  a  king> 
dom  for  his  Son,  (for  he  is  appointed  heir  of  the  world)  and 
that  he  might  have  the  potreOion  of  it,  and  a  kingdom  in  it, 

*  which 


Intr.  WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N. 


21 


which  fhould  remain  to  all  eternity.  So  that,  ib  far  forth  as 
the  kingdom  of  Chrill  is  fct  up  in  the  world,  fo  far  is  the  world 
brought  to  its  end,  and  the  eternal  flatc  of  things  fct  up.  So 
far  are  all  the  great  changes  and  revolutions  of  the  ages  of  the 
world  brought  to  their  evcrlafting  ilTue,  and  all  things  come  to 
their  ultimate  period.  So  far  are  the  waters  of  the  long  chan- 
nel of  divine  providence,  which  has  fo  many  branches,  and  fo 
many  windings  and  turnings,  emptied  out  into  their  proper 
ocean,  which  they  have  been  feeking  from  the  beginning  and 
head  of  their  courfe,  and  fo  are  come  to  their  reli.  So  far  as 
Chrifl's  kingdom  is^eitablifhed  in  the  world,  fo  far  are  things 
wound  up  and  fettled  in  their  everlafting  Hate,  and  a  period 
put  to  the  courfe  of  things  in  this  changeable  world ;  fo  far  arcj 
the  firft  heavens  and  the  firft  earth  come  to  an  end,  and  the 
new  heavens  and  the  new  earth,  the  everlafting  heavens  and 
earth,  eflablilhed  in  their  room. 

This  leads  me  to  obferve, 

IV,  That  the  ftate  of  things  which  is  attained  by  the  events 
of  this  period,  is  what  is  fo  often  called  the  kingdo?n  of  heaven,  or 
the  kingdom  of  God.  We  very  often  read  in  the  New  Tellament 
of  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  John  the  Baptiil  preached,  that 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  at  hand ;  and  fo  did  Chrift,  and 
his  difciples  after  him  ;  referring  to  fomething  that  the  Jews 
in  thofe  days  expefted,  and  very  much  talked  of,  which  they 
called  by  that  name.  They  feem  to  have  taken  their  expe£la- 
tion  and  the  name  chiefly  from  that  prophecy  of  Daniel  iti 
Nebuchadnezzar's  dream,  Dan.  ii,  44,  "And  in  the  days  of 
thefe  kings  fhall  the  God  of  heavtnfet  up  a  kingdom  ;"  togeth- 
er with  that  in  chap.  vii.  13,  14, 

Now  this  kingdom  of  heaven  is  that  evangelical  Hate  of 
things  in  his  church,  and  in  the  world,  wherein  confifls  the 
fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption  in  this  period.  There  had  been 
often  great  kingdoms  fet  up  before,  which  were  earthly  king- 
doms ;  as  the  Babylonifli,  the  Perfian,  the  Grecian,  and  the 
Roman  monarchies.  But  Chrill  came  to  fet  up  the  laft  king- 
dom, which  is  not  an  earthly  kingdom,  but  an  heavenly,  and 
fo  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  John  xvlii,  36.  "  My  kingdom 
is  not  of  this  world."  This  is  the  kingdom  of  which  Chrifl 
fpeaks,  Luke  xxil.  29.  *'  My  Father  hath  appointed  to  me  a 
kingdom."  This  kingdom  began  foon  after  Chrifl's  refurrec- 
tion,  and  was  accompUftied  in  various   fteps  from  that   time  to 

the 


2i6  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     OF    THs  Period  III. 

the  end  of  the  world.  Sometimes  by  the  kiyigdom  of  heaven,  is 
meant  that  Ipiritual  Rate  of  the  church  which  began  foon  after 
Chriil's  refarreftion  ;  fometimes  that  more  perfect  ftate  of  the 
church  which  fhall  obtain  after  the  downfall  of  Antichrift  ; 
and  fometimes  that  glorious  and  bleffed  (late  to  which  the  church 
fliall  be  received  at  the  day  of  judgment :  i  Cor.  xv,  50.  the 
apoftle,  fpeaking  of  the  refurre6lion,  fays,  ""This  I  fay,  that 
fielh  and  blood  cannot  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God." 

Under  this  head  I  would  obferve  feveral  things  particularly, 
for  the  clearer  underftanding  of  what  the  fcripture  fays  con- 
cerning this  period. 

1.  The  fetting  up  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  is  chiefly  accom- 
pli fhed  by  four  fucceflive  great  events,  each  of  which  is  in 
fcripture  called  Chrijl's  coming  in  his  kingdom.  The  whole  fuc- 
cefs  of  Chrifl's  redemption  is  comprehended  in  one  word,  viz, 
his  fetting  up  his  kingdom.  This  is  chiefly  done  by  four  great 
fuccefTive  difpenfations  of  providence  ;  and  every  one  of  them 
is  reprefented  in  fcripture  as  Chrift's  coming  in  his  kingdom. 
The  firft  is  Chrifl's  appearing  in  thofe  wonderful  difpenfations 
of  providence  in  the  apoflles'  days,  in  fetting  up  his  kingdom, 
and  deflroying  the  enemies  of  his  kingdom,  which  ended  in 
the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem.  This  is  called  Chrifl's  coming  iri 
his  kingdom,  Matth.  xvi.  28.  "  Verily  I  fay  unto  you,  there  be 
fome  flanding  here,  which  fhall  not  tafle  of  death  until  they 
fee  the  Son  of  Man  coming  in  his  kingdom.'*  And  fo  it  is  rep- 
refented in  Matth.  xxiv.  The  fecond  is  that  which  was  ac- 
compliflied  in  Conftantine's  time,  in  the  deftruftion  of  the 
heathen  Roman  empire.  This  is  reprefented  as  Chrifl's  com- 
ing, and  is  compared  to  his  coming  to  judgment,  in  the  6th 
chapter  of  Revelation  at  the  latter  end.  The  third  is  that 
which  is  to  be  accomplifhed  at  the  deflruftion  of  Antichrifl. 
This  alfo  is  reprefented  as  Chrifl's  coming  in  his  kingdom  in 
the  7th  chapter  of  Daniel,  and  in  other  places,  as  I  may  pcfTibly 
fhow  hereafter,  when  I  come  to  fpeak  of  it.  The  fourth  and 
lafl  is  his  coming  to  the  lafl  judgment,  which  is  the  event  prin- 
cipally fignified  in  fcripture  by  Chrijl's  coming  in  his  kingdom. 

2.  I  would  obferve,  that  each  of  the  three  former  of  thefe  is 
a  lively  image  or  type  of  the  fourth  and  lafl,  viz.  Chrifl's  com- 
ing to  the  final  judgment,  as  the  principal  difpenfations  of  prov- 
idence before  Chrifl's  firfl  coming,  were  types  of  that  firfl  com- 
ing,— As  Chrifl's  lafl  coming  to  judgment  is  accompanied  with 

a 


intr.  WORK    of    REDEM.PTION.        217 

a  refurreftion  of  the  dead,  fo  is  each  of  the  three  foregoing 
with  a  fpiritual  refurreftion.  That  coming  of  Chri/l  which 
ended  in  the  dcftrudion  of  Jerufalem,  was  preceded  by  a  glo- 
rious fpiritual  refurre£lion  of  fouls  in  the  calling  of  the  Gentiles, 
and  bringing  home  fuch  multitudes  of  fouls  to  Chrift  by  the 
preaching  of  the  gofpel.  So  Chrift's  coming  in  Conftantine's 
time,  was  accompanied  with  a  glorious  fpiritual  refurreftion  of 
the  greater  part  of  the  known  world,  in  a  rcfloration  of  it  to  a 
vifible  church  ftate,  from  a  (late  of  heathenifm.  So  Chrifl's 
coming  at  the  deftru6lion  of  Antichrifl,  will  be  attended  with  a 
fpiritual  refurre6lion  of  the  church  after  it  had  been  long  as  it 
were  dead,  in  the  times  of  Antichrift.  This  is  called,  the  jirji 
refurrcElion  in  the  20th  chapter  of  Revelation. 

Again,  as  Chrifl:  in  the  laft  judgment  will  glorioufly  manifefi; 
himfclf,  coming  in  the  glory  of  his  father,  fo  in  each  of  the 
three  foregoing  events,  Chrift  glorioufly  manifefted  h-imfelf  in 
fending  judgments  upon  his  enemies,  and  in  Chowing  grace  and 
favour  to  his  church  ;  and  as  the  lall  coming  of  Chrift  will  be 
attended  with  a  literal  gathering  together  of  the  eleft  from  the' 
four  winds  of  heaven,  fo  were  each  of  the  preceding  attended 
with  a  fpiritual  gathering  in  of  the  eleft.  As  this  gathering  to* 
gether  of  the  eleft  will  be  effected  by  God's  angels,  with  a  g;eaf 
found  of  a  trumpet,  as  in  Matth.  xxiv.  31.  fo  were  each  of  the 
preceding  fpiritual  ingatherings  effefted  by  the  trumpet  of  the 
.gofpel,  founded  by  the  minifter-s  of  Chrift.  As  there  fhali  pre- 
cede the  laft  appearance  of  Chrift,  a  time  of  great  degeneracy 
and  wickednefs,  fo  this  has  been,  or  will  be,  the  cafe  with  each 
of  the  other  appearances.  Before  each  of  them  is  a  time  of 
great  oppofition  to  the  church  ;  Before  the  firft,  by  the  Jews, 
in  thttir  perfecutions  that  we  read  of  in  the  New  Teftament  j 
before  the  fecond,  viz.  in  Conftantine's  time,  by  the  heathen, 
in  feveral  fuccefllve  perfecutions  raifed  by  the  Roman  emperors 
againft  the  Chriftians  ;  before  the  third,  by  Antichrift;  and  be- 
fore the  laft,  by  Gog  and  Magog,  as  defcrlbed  in  the  Revelation, 

By  each  of  thefe  comings  of  Chrift,  God  works  a  glorious  de- 
liverance for  his  church.  Each  of  them  is  accompanied  with  a 
glorious  advancement  of  the  ftate  of  the  church.  The  firft, 
which  ended  in  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem,  was  attended  with 
bringing  the  church  into  the  glorious  ftate  of  the  gofpel,  a  glo- 
rious ftate  of  the  church  very  much  prophcfied  of  old,  whereby 
th<;  chxu*ch  was  advanced  into  far  more  glorious  gircumftances 
Dd  than 


2ii 


A    HISTORY    OF    THE  Period  III, 


thftii  it  was  in  befare  under  the  Jcwilh  difpenfation.  The  fee- 
ond  which  was  in  Conftantine'^  time,  was  accompanied  witli 
an  advancement  of  the  church  into  a  flate  of  liberty  from  perfc- 
cution,  and  the  countenance  of  civil  authority,  and  triumph 
over  their  heathen  perfecutors.  The  third,  which  fhall  be  at 
the  downfall  of  Antichrift,  will  be  accompanied  with  an  ad- 
vancement of  the  church  into  that  ftate  of  the  glorious  preva- 
lence of  truth,  liberty,  peace,  and  joy,  that  we  lo  often  read  of  in 
the  prophetical  parts  of  fcripture.  The  laft  will  be  attended 
with  the  advancement  of  the  church  to  confummate  glory  in 
bpth  foul  and  body  in  heaven. 

Each  of  thefe  comings  of  Chrift  is  accompanied  with  a  terri- 
ble deflruftion  of  the  wicked,  and  the  enemies  of  the  church  : 
The  firft,  with  the  deftruftion  of  the  per{ecuting  Jews,  which 
was  amazingly  terrible  ;  the  fecond,  with  dreadful  judgments  on 
the  heathen  perfecutors  of  the  church,  of  which  more  hereafter  ; 
the  third,  with  the  awful  deftrudion  of  Antichrift,  the  moft 
cruel  and  bitter  enemy  that  ever  the  church  had ;  the  fourth, 
with  divine  wrath  and  vengeance  on  all  the  ungodly. 

Further,  there  is  in  each  of  thefc  comings  of  Chrift  an  end- 
ing of  the  old  heavens  and  the  old  earth,  and  a  beginning  of 
new  heavens  and  a  new  earth  ;  or  an  end  of  a  temporal  ftate  ef 
things,  and  a  beginning  of  an  eternal  ftate. 

3.  I  would  obierve,  that  each  of  thofe  four  great  difpenfations 
which  are  reprefeiited  as  Chrift's   coming  in  his  kingdom,    are 
but  fo  many  fteps  asd  degrees  of  the  accomplifhment  of  one  event. 
They   are  not  the  fetting   up  of  fo  many  diftind  kingdoms  of 
Chrift  ;  they  are  all  of  them  only  feveral   degrees   of  the   ac- 
compli&ment  of  that  one  event  prophefied  of,  Dan.  vii.  13,  14. 
<«  And  I  faw  in  the  night  vifions,  and  behold,  one  like  the   Son 
of  Man,  came  with  the  clouds  of  heaven,  and  came  to  the  An- 
cient of  Days,  and  they  brought  him  near  before  him.     And 
there  was  given  him  dominion,  and  glory,  and  a  kingdom,  that 
^1  people,  nations,   and  languages,  fliould  ferve  him  :    His  do- 
minion is  an  everlafting  dominion,  and  his  kingdom  that  which 
fiiall  not  be  deftroyed/*    This  is  what  the  Jews  expeded,  and 
called  «  the  coming  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;"  and  what 
John  the  Baptiil  and   Chrift  had  refpeft:  to,   when  they  faid, 
«  The  kingdom  of  heaven  i$  at  hand,"     This   great  event   is 
gradually  a,ccompli&«d,  or  or  accomplished  by  feveral  fteps, 

Thofc 


Ihtr.  WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  219 

Thofe  four  great  events  which  have  been  mentioned,  were  fev- 
cral  fteps  towards  the  accomplifhinent  of  this  grand  event. 

When  Chriffc  came  with  the  preaching  of  the  apoftles,  to  fet 
up  his  kingdom  in  the  world,  which  difpenfation  ended  with 
the  deftrutlion  of  Jerufalem,  then  it  was  accomplifhed  in  a  glo- 
rious degree  ;  when  the  heathen  empire  was  deftroyed  in  Con- 
ftantine*s  time,  it  was  fulfilled  in  a  further  degree  ;  when  An- 
tichrift  fliall  be  deftroyed,  it  will  be  accompliflied  in  a  yet  high- 
er degree  :  But  when  the  end  of  the  world  is  come,  then  will 
it  be  accomplifhed  in  its  mofl  perfeft  degree  of  all  ;  then  it  will 
be  finally  and  completely  accomplifhed.  And  becaufe  thefe 
four  great  events  are  but  images  one  of  another,  and  the  three 
former  but  types  of  the  lafl,  and  fince  they  are  all  only  feveral 
fteps  of  the  accomplifhment  of  the  fame  thing  ;  hence  v;e  find 
them  all  from  time  to  time  prophefied  of  under  one,  as  they  are 
in  the  prophecies  of  Daniel,  and  as  they  are  in  the  24th  chapter 
of  Matthew,  where  fome  things  feem  more  applicable  to  one  of 
them,  and  others  to  another. 

4.  I  would  obferve,  that  as  there  are  feveral  fleps  of  the  ie- 
complilhment  of  the  kingdom  of  Ghrifl,  fd  in  each  one  of  them 
the  event  is  accomplifhed  in  a  further  degree  than  in  the  fore- 
going. That  in  the  time  of  Conflantine  was  a  greater  and  fur- 
ther accomplifhment  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl,  than  that  whith 
ended  in  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem  ;  that  which  (hall  be  at 
the  fall  of  Antichrifl,  will  be  at  further  accomplifhment  of  thfe 
fame  thing,  than  that  which  took  place  in  the  time  of  Conftan- 
tine  ;  and  fo  on  with  regard  to  each  :  So  that  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  is  gradually  prevailing  and  growing  by  thefe  feveral  great 
fteps  of  its  fulfilment,  from  the  time  of  Chrift's  refurreftion,  t6 
the  end  of  the  world, 

5.  And  laftly,  It  may  be  obferved,  that  the  great  providences 
of  God  between  thefe  four  great  events,  are  to  make  way  fbr 
the  kingdom  and  glory  of  Chrifl:  in  the  great  event  following. 
Thofe  difpenfations  of  providence  which  were  towards  the 
church  of  God  and  the  world,  before  the  deIlru6bion  of  the 
heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Conftantinc,  feem  all  to  have 
been  to  make  way  for  the  glory  of  Chrift,  and  the  happinefs  of 
the  church  in  that  event.  And  fo  the  great  providences  of  God 
which  are  after  that,  until  the  deftruftionof  Antichrift,  and  the 
beginning  of  the  glorious  times  of  the  church  which  follow, 
feem  all  to  be  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  greater  glory  of  Chrifl 

and 


^%o 


A    HISTORY    OP  THE         Period  III. 


and  his  church  in  that  event  ;  and  the  providences  of  God 
which  fhall  be  after  that  to  the  end  of  the  world,  feem  to  be  for 
the  greater  manifeflation  of  Chrifl's  glory  at  the  end  of  the 
*vorld,  and  in  the  confummation  of  all  things. 

Thus  I  thought  it  needful  to  obferve  thofe  things  in  general 
concerning  this  laft  period  of  the  feries  of  God's  providence, 
before  I  take  notice  of  the  particular  providences  by  which  the 
work  of  redemption  is  carried  on  through  this  period,  in  their 
order  ;  And  before  I  do  that,  I  will  alfo  briefly  anfwer  to  an 
Inquiry,  viz.  ^i  Why  the  fetting  up  of  Chrift's  kingdom  after 
his  humiliation,  fhould  be  fo  gradual,  by  fo  many  fteps  that  are 
fo  long  in  accomplifhingj  fmce  God  could  eafily  h^ve  Enifhed 
;xt  at  once  ? 

Though  it  would  be  prefumption  in  us  to  pretend  to  declare 
^11  the  ends  of  God  in  this,  yet  doubtlefs  much  of  the  wifdom 
of  God  may  be  feen  in  it  by  us  ;  and  particularly  in  thefe  two 


t.  In  this  way  the  glory  of  God's  wifdom,  in  the  manner  of 
.doing  this,  is  more  vifible  to  the  obfervation  of  creatures.  If  it 
had  been  done  at  once,  in  an  inftant,  or  in  a  very  ihort  time, 
.there  would  not  have  been  fuch  opportunities  for  creatures  to 
perceive  and  obferve  the  particular  fteps  of  divine  wifdom,  as 
when  the  work  is  gradually  accomplifhed,  and  one  effed  of  his 
wifdom  is  held  forth  to  obfervation  after  another.  It  is  wifely 
.determined  of  God,  to  accomplifh  his  great  defign  by  a  wonder- 
ful and  long  ISeries  of  events,  that  the  glory  of  his  wifdom  may 
be  difplayed  in  the  whole  feries,  and  that  the  glory  of  his  per- 
feftionsmay  be  feen,  appearing,  ^s  it  were,  by  parts,  and  in  par- 
jfcicular  fucceflive  mapifeflations  :  For  if  all  that  glory  which 
appears  in  all  thefe  events  had  been  manifefted  at  once,  it  would 
JiaVe  been  top  piuch  for  us,  and  more  than  we  at  once  could 
.take  notice  of  ;  it  would  have  dazzled  .our  eyes,  and  overpower- 
ed our  fight. 

2.  Satan  is  more  glojriouHy  triumphed  over. God   could 

«afily,  l^y  an  aft  of  almighty  power,  at  once  have  crufhed  Satan, 
But  by  giving  him  time  to  ufe  his  utmoft  fubtilty  to  hinder  the 
fuccefs  of  what  Chrift  had  done  and  fuffered,  he  is  not  defeated 
merely  by  furprife,  but  has  large  opportunity  to  ply  his  utmoft 
power  and  fubtilty  again  and  again,  to  ftrengihen  his  own  inter- 
eft  all  that  he  can  by  the  work  of  many  ages.  Thus  God  de- 
flroys  and  confounds  him,  and  fet3  up  Chrift's  kingdom  time 

after 


Part  I.       WORK    op    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  tty 

after  time,  in  fpitc  of  all  his  fubtlc  machinations  and  great 
%vorks,  and  by  every  flep  advances  it  ftill  higher  and  higher, 
until  at  length  it  is  fully  fct  up,  and  Satan  perfeflly  and  eternal- 
ly  vanquiOied  in  the  end  of  all  things. 

I  now  proceed  to  take  notice  of  the  particular  events,  where- 
by, from  the  end  of  Chrift's  humiliation  to  the  end  of  the 
world,  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  purchafe  has  been  or  fhall  be  ac- 
complifhed.. 

1.  I  would  take  notice  of  thofe  .things  whereby  Chrift  was 
put  into  an  immediate  capacity  for  accomplifhing  the  end  of 
his  purchafe. 

2.  I  would  fhow  how  he  obtained  or  accomplifhed  that  fuc- 
cefs. 


I. 


I  WOULD  take  notice,  firft,  of  thofe  things  by  which  Chrifl 
was  put  into  a  capacity  for  accomplifhing  the  end  of  his  pur- 
chafe. And  they  are  two  things,  viz.  his  refurreclion,  and  his 
afcenfion.  As  we  obferved  before,  the  incarnation  of  Chrift 
was  necefTary  in  order  to  Chrifl's  being  in  a  near  capacity  for 
the  purchafe  of  redemption  ;  fo  the  refurreftion  and  afcenfion 
of  Chrift  were  requiftte,  in  order  to  his  accomplifhing  the  fuc- 
cefs of  his  purchafe. 

I.  His  refurreftion.  It  was  necefTary,  In  order  to  Chrift's 
obtaining  the  end  and  efpeft  of  his  purchafe  of  redemption,  that 
he  fhould  rife  from  the  dead.  For  God  the  Father  had  com- 
mitted the  whole  affair  of  redemption,  not  only  the  purchafmg 
of  it,  but  the  beftowing  of  the  blefTmgs  purchafed,  to  his  Son, 
that  he  fhould  not  only  purchafe  it  as  prieft,  but  aftually  bring 
it  about  as  king  ;  and  that  he  fhould  do  this  as  Godman.  For 
God  the  Father  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  fallen  man,  in 
a  way  of  mercy,  but  by  a  mediator.  But  in  order  that  Chrift 
might  carry  on  the  work  of  redemption,  and  accomplifh  the 
fuccefs  of  his  own  purchafe  as  Godman,  it  was  necefTary  that  he 
ihould  be  alive,  and  fo  that  he  fhould  rife  from  the  dead. 
Therefore  Chrift,  after  he  had  finifhed  this  purchafe  by  death, 
and  by  continuing  for  a  time  under  the  power  of  death,  rifes 
from  the  dead,  to  fulfil  the  end  of  his  purchafe,  and  himfelf  to 

bring 


tit  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    Of  THE  Period  III. 

^ring  ibOut  that  for  which  he  died  :  For  this  matter  God  the 
Father  had  committed  unto  him,  that  he  might,  as  Lord  of  all, 
manage  all  to  his  own  purpofes  :  Rom.  xiv,  g.  "  For  to  thi4 
end  ChriO;  both  died,  and  rofe,  and  revived,  that  he  might  be 
Lord  both  of  the  dead  and  the  living.'* 

Indeed  Chrifl's  refurreftion,  and  fo  his  afcenfion,  was  part  of 
the  {uccefs  of  what  Chrift  did  and  fufFered  in  his  humiliation. 
For  though  Chrift  did  not  properly  purchafe  redemption  for 
himfelf,  yet  he  purchafed  eternal  life  and  glory  for  himfelf,  by 
what  he  did  and  fuffered  ;  and  this  eternal  life  and  glory  was 
given  him  as  a  reward  of  what  he  did  and  fuffered :  Fhil,  ii,  8, 
5.  "  He  humbled  himfelf,  and  became  obedient  unto  death,  even 
the  death  of  the  crofs.  Wherefore  God  alfo  hath  highly  exalt* 
cd  him.**  And  it  may  be  looked  upon  as  part  of  the  fuccefs 
of  Chrift's  purchafe,  if  it  be  confidered,  that  Chrift  did  not  rife 
as  a  private  perfon,  but  as  the  head  of  the  eleO:  church ;  fo  that 
they  did,  as  it  were,  all  rife  with  him.  Chrift  was  juftified  in 
his  refurreftion,  i.  e.  God  acquitted  and  difcharged  him  hereby, 
as  having  done  and  fufFered  enough  for  the  fins  of  all  the  ele6l : 
Rom.  iv.  25.  f«  Who  was  delivered  for  our  offences,  and  railed 
again  for  our  juftification."  And  God  put  him  in  pofleffion  of 
eternal  life,  as  the  head  of  the  church,  as  a  fure  earneft  that  they 
fhould  follow.  For  when  Chrift  rofe  from  the  dead,  that  was 
the  beginning  of  eternal  life  in  him.  His  life  before  his  death 
was  a  mortal  life,  a  temporal  life  ;  but  his  life  after  his  refurrec- 
tion  was  an  eternal  life:  Rom.  vi.  9.  «  Knowing  that  Chrift 
being  raifed  from  the  dead,  dieth  no  more ;  death  hath  no  more 
dominion  over  him.'*  Rev.  i.  18.  "I  am  he  that  liveth,  and 
was  dead  ;  and  behold,  I  am  alive  for  evermore.  Amen." — But 
he  was  put  in  poffelTion  of  this  eternal  life,  as  the  head  of  the 
body ;  and  took  poffelTion  of  it,  not  only  to  enjoy  himfelf,  but 
to  beftow  on  all  who  believe  in  him  :  So  that  the  whole  church, 
as  it  were,  rifes  in  him.  And  now  he  who  lately  fuffered  fo 
much,  after  this  is  to  fulfer  no  more  for  ever,  but  to  enter  into 
eternal  glory*  God  the  Father  neither  cxpc6ls  nor  defires  any 
more  fufFering. 

This  refurreftion  of  Chrift  is  the  moft  joyful  event  that  ever 
came  to  pafs ;  becaufe  hereby  Chrift  refted  from  the  great  and 
difficult  work  of  purchafing  redemption,  and  received  God's 
teftimony,  that  it  was  finifhed.  The  death  of  Chrift  was  the 
grcateft  and  moft  wonderful  event  that  ever  came  to  pafs ;  but 

that 


Parti.        WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  223 

that  has  a  great  deal  in  it  that  is  forrowful.     But  by  the  refur- 
reftion  of  Chrift,  that  forrow  is  turned  into  joy.     The  head  of 
the  whole  church,   in  that    great  event,  enters  on  the  poffeflion 
of  eternal  life;  and  the  whole  church  is,  as  it  were,  "  begotten 
again  to  a  lively  hope."  i  Pet.  i.  3.     Weeping    had   coirttinued 
for  a  night,  but  now  joy  cometh  in  the  morning,  the  moft  joy- 
ful morning  that  ever  was.     This  is  the  day  of  the  reigning  of 
the  head  of  the  church,   and  all   the  church  reigns   with    him. 
This  is  fpokcn  of  as  a  day  which  was  worthy  to  be  commemo- 
rated with  the  greateft  joy  of  all  days  ;  Pfal.  cxviii.  24.  "  This 
is  the  day  which  the  Lord  hath  made,  we  will  rejoice  and  be 
glad  in  it."     And   therefore   this  above  all  other   days  is  ap- 
pointed  for  the  day  of  the  church's  fpiritual  rejoicing  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  to  be   weekly  fanftified,  as  their  day  of  holy 
reft  and  joy,  that  the  church   therein  may  reft  and  rejoice  with 
her  head.     And  as  the  3d  chapter  of  Genefis  is  the  moft  for-^ 
rowful  chapter  in  the  Bible  ;  fo  thofe  chapters  in  the  evange- 
lifts   that  give  an  account  of  the  refurre£lion  of  Chrift,  may  be 
looked  upon  as  the  moft  joyful  chapters  of  all  the  Bible  :    For 
thofe  chapters  give  an  account  of  the   finifhing  of  the  purchafe 
of  redemption,  and  the  beginning  of  the  glory  of  the  head  cf 
the  church,   as  the  greateft  feal  and  earneft  of  the  eternal  gloxy 
of  all  the  reft. 

It  is  further  to   be  obferved,  that  the  day  of  the  gofpel  moft 

properly  begins  with  the  refurre6tion  of  Chrift. — Until    Chrift 

rofe  from  the  dead,  the  Old  Teftament  difpenfation  remained  : 

But  now  it  ceafes,   all  being  fulfilled  that  was  fhadowed  forth 

in  the  typical   ordinances  of  that   difpenfation  :  So  that  here 

moft  properly  is  the  end  of  the  Old  Teftament  night,  and  Chrift 

rifing   from  the  grave  with  joy  and  glory,  was  as  the  joyful 

bridegroom  of  the  church,  as  a  glorious  conqueror  to  fubdue 

their  enemies  under  their  feet ;  or  was  like  the  fun  rifing  as  it 

were  from  under  the  earth,  after  a  long  night  of  darknefs,  and 

coming  forth  as  a  bridegroom,  prepared  as  a  ftrong  man  to  run 

his  race,    appearing  in  joyful   light   to    enlighten   the   world. 

Now  that  joyful  and  excellent  difpenfation  begins,  that  glorious 

difpenfation,   of  which  the  prophets  prophefied  fo  much  j  now 

the  gofpel  fun  is  rifen  in  glory,  «<  and  with  healing  in  his  wings," 

that  thofe  who  fear  God's  name,  may  "  go  forth,  and  grow  up 

as  calves  of  the  ftall." 

II.  Chrlft's 


224  -^    HISTORY    o|^   THB  Period  IlL 

II.  Chriil's  arcenfion  into  heaven.  In  this  I  would  include 
his  fitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God.  For  Chrift's  afcenfion, 
and  fitting  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  can  fcarcely  be  looked 
upon  as  two  di{lin£l  things :  For  Chrifl's  afcenfion  was  noth- 
ing elfe,  but  afcending  to  God's  right  hand  ;  it  was  his  coming 
to  fit  down  at  his  Father's  right  hand  in  glory.  This  was 
another  thing  whereby  Chrifl  was  put  into  a  capacity  for  the 
accomplilhing  the  efre6l  of  his  purchafe  ;  as  one  that  comes  to 
be  a  deliverer  of  a  people  as  their  king,  in  order  to  it,  and  that 
he  may  be  under  the  befl  capacity  for  it,  is  firll  inftalled  in  hii 
throne.  W,c  are  told,  that  Chrift  was  exalted  for  this  end, 
that  he  might  accomplifti  the  fuccefs  of  his  redemption :  Afts 
V.  31.  "  Him  hath  God  exalted  with  his  right  hand,  for  to  give 
repentance  unto  Ifracl,  and  the  remilTion  of  fins." 

Chrift's  afcenfion  into  heaven  was,  as  it  were,  his  folemn  en- 
thronization,  whereby  the  Father  did  fet  him  upon  the  throne, 
and  inveft  him  with  the  glory  of  his  kingdom  which  he  had 
purchafed  for  himfelf,  trjat  he  might  thereby  obtain  the  fuccefs 
of  liis  redemption  in  conquering  all  his  enemies :  Pfal.  ex.  1. 
<«  Sit  thou  at  my  right  hand,  until  I  make  thine  enemies  thy 
footflool."  Chrift  entered  into  heaven,  in  order  to  obtain  the 
fuccefs  of  his  purchafe,  as  the  high  pried  of  old,  after  he  had 
offered  facrifice,  entered  into  the  holy  of  holies  with  the  blood 
of  the  facrifice,  in  order  to  obtain  the  fuccefs  of  the  facrifice 
which  he  had  offered.  See  Heb.  ix.  12.  He  entered  into 
heaven,  there  to  make  interceflion  for  his  people,  to  plead  t^^ie 
lacrifice  which  he  had  made  in  order  to  the  fuccefs  of  it,  Heb> 
vli.  2-5. 

And  as  he  afcended  into  heaven,  God  the  Father  did  in  a 
vifible  manner  fet  him  on  the  throne  as  king  of  the  univcrfe. 
He  then  put  the  angels  all  under  him,  and  fubje8:cd  heaven 
and  earth  under  him,  that  he  might  govern  them  for  the  good 
of  the  people  for  whom  he  had  died,  £ph.  i.  20,  21,  2a. 

And  as  Chrifl  rofe  from  the  dead,  fo  he  afcended  into  heav- 
en as  the  head  of  the  body  and  forerunner  of  all  the  church  ; 
and  fo  they,  as  it  vrere,  afcend  with  him,  as  well  as  rife  with 
him :  So  that  wc  are  both  raifed  up  together,  and  made  to  fit 
together  in  heavenly  places  in  Chrift,  Eph.  ii.  6. 

The  day  of  Chrifl's   afcenfion  into  heaven  was   doubtlcfs  2  ,. 
joyful,  glorious  day  in  heaven.     And  as  heaven  received  Chrift, 
Godman,  as  its  king,  fo  doubtlefs  it  received  a  great  accefTion  of 


Partll.i.     WO  R  K    OF    R  E  DE  M  PTION.  225 

glory  and  happinefs,  far  beyond  what  it  had  before.  So  that 
the  times  in  both  parts  of  the  church,  both  that  part  which  is 
in  heaven  and  alfo  that  which  is  on  earth,  are  become  more 
glorious  fince  Chrift's  humiliation  than  before. 

So  much  for  thofe  things  whereby  Chrift  was  put  into  the 
befl  capacity  for  obtaining  the  fuccefs  of  redemption. 

Part       II. 

I  NOW  proceed  to  fhow  how  he  accomplifhcd  this  fuccefs. 
And  here:  I  would  obfcrve,  that  this  fuccefs  confifls  in  two 
things,  viz,  either  in  Grace,  or  in  Glory.  That  fuccefs  which, 
confifts  in  the  former,  is  to  be  feen  in  thofe  works  of  God 
which  are  wrought  during  thofe  ages  of  the  church  wherein 
the  church  is  continued  under  the  outward  means  of  Grace. 
That  fuccefs  which  confifts  in  the  latter  of  thefe,  viz.  Glory, 
has  its  chief  accomplifliment  at  the  day  of  judgment. 

Section   I. 

1  WOULD  firft  confider  the  former  kind  of  fuccefs,  confifting 
in  God's  grace  here;  which  mainly  appears  in  the  works  of 
God  during  the  time  that  the  Chriftian  church  continues  under 
the  means  of  grace ;  which  is  from  Chrift's  refurreftion  to  his 
appearing  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  to  judgment  ;  which  includes 
the  three  former  of  thofe  great  events  of  providence  before 
mentioned,  which  are  called  Chriji's  coming  in  his  kingdom*  In 
fpeaking  of  this  fuccefs,  I  would, 

1.  Mention  thofe  things  by  which  the  means  of  this  fuccefs 
were  eftablifhed  after  Chrift's  refurre6lion ;  and, 

2.  Conftder  the  fuccefs  itfelf, 

§  I,  I  would  confider  thofe  difpenfations  of  providence,  by 
which  the  means  of  this  fuccefs  were  eftablillicd  after  Chrift's 
refurreftion , 

I.  The  aboliftiing  of  the  Jewifti  difpenfation.  This  indeed 
was  gradually  done,  but  it  began  from  the  time  of  Chrift's  ref- 
urreftion,  in  which  the  abolition  of  it  is  founded.  This  was 
the  firft  thing  done  towards  bringing  the  former  ftatc  of  the 
world  to  an  end.  This  is  to  be  looked  upon  as  the  great  means 
of  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption.     For  the  Jewifti  difpen- 

Ee  fation 


226  A    li  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  HI. 

iation  was  not  fitted  for   more  than  one  nation :  It  was  not  fit- 
ted for  the   praftice  of  the  world  in  general,  or  for  a  church 
of  God  dwelling   in  all  parts  of  the  world :  Nor  would  it  have 
been  in  any  wife  practicable  by  them  :  It  would  have  been  im- 
poflible  for  men  living  in  all  parts  of  the  world  to  go  to  Jerufa- 
lem  three  times  a  year,   as  was  prefcribed  in   that  conftitution. 
When  therefore  God  had  a  defign  of  enlarging  his  church,  as 
he  did  after  Chrifl's  refurreftion,  it  was  neceffary  that   this  dif- 
penfation   fhould  be  abollfhed.     If  it  had  been   continued,    it 
would  have  been    a  great  block  and  hinderance  to  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the   church.     And  befides,  their  ceremonial  law,  by 
reafon  of  its  burdenfomenefs,   and  great  peculiarity  of  fome   of 
its  rites,  was  as  it  were  a  wall  of  partition,  and  was  the  ground 
of  enmity  between  the  Jews  and  Gentiles,  and  would  have  kept 
the  Gentiles  from  complying  with  the  true  religion.     This  wall 
therefore  was  broken  down  to  make  way  for  the  more  exten- 
live  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  ;  as  Eph.  ii.  14,  15. 

II.  The  next  thing  in  order  of  time  feems  to  be  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Chriftian  Sabbath,     For  though  this  was  gradually 
eftablifhed  in   the  Chriftian  church,  yet  thofe  things  by  which 
the  revelation  of  God's  mind  and  will  was  made,  began  on  the 
day  of  Chrift's  refurre6lion,  by  his  appearing  then   to  his  difci- 
ples,  John  xx.  19.  and  was  afterwards  confirmed  by  his  ap- 
pearing from  time  to   time  on  that  day  rather  than  any  other, 
John  XX.  26.  and  by  his  fending  down  the  Holy  Spirit   fo  re- 
fharkably  on   that  day,  AQ;s  ii.  1.  and  afterwards  in    directing 
that  publick  aflemblies  and  the  publick  worfhip  of  Chriftians 
fhould  be  on  that  day,  which  may  be  concluded  from  A6ls  xx. 
7.    1  Cor.  xvi.    1,   2.   and  Rev,   i.    10.     And   fo  the  day  of  the 
week  on  which  Chrift  rofe  from  the  dead,  that  joyful  day,  is 
appointed   to  be  the  day  of  the  church's  holy  rejoicing  to  the 
end  of  the  world,  and  the  day  of  their  dated   publick  worfiiip. 
And  this  is  a  very  great  and  principal  meai-ss  of   the  fuccefs 
which  the  gofpel  has  had  in  the  world, 

III.  The  next  thing  was  Chrift's  appointment  of  the  gofpel 
miniftry,  and  commiflionating  and  fending  forth  his  apoftles  to 
teach  and  baptize  all  nations.  Of  thefe  things  we  have  an  ac- 
count in  Matth.  xxviii.  19,  20.  "Go  ye,  therefore,  and  teach 
all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of 
the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghoft  ;  teaching  them  to  obfcrve  all 
things  whatfoever  I  have  commanded  you  ;  And  lo,  I  am  with 


Partll.x.    WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.        227 

•you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  the  of  world." — There  were 
three  things  done  by  this  one  inftruftion  and  commiffion  of 
Chrifl:  to  his  apoflles,  viz. 

1.  The  appointment  of  the  office  of  the  gofpel  minillry. 
For  this  commiflion  which  Chrift  gives  to  his  apollles,  in  the 
moft  effential  parts  of  it,  belongs  to  all  minlflers ;  and  the  apof- 
tles,  by  virtue  of  it,  were  minifters  or  elders  of  the  church. 

2.  Here  is  fomething  peculiar  in  this  commiffion  of  the  apof- 
tles,  viz.  to  go  forth  from  one  nation  to  another,  preaching  the 
gofpel  in  all  the  world.  The  apollles  had  fomething  above 
what  belonged  to  their  ordinary  charafter  as  minifters  ;  they 
had  an  extraordinary  power  of  teaching  and  ruling,  which  ex- 
tended to  ail  the  churches;  and  not  only  all  the  churches 
which  then  were,  but  all  that  fliould  be  to  the  end  of  the  world 
by  their  miniflry.  And  fo  the  apoflles  were,  as  it  were,  in 
fubordination    to    Chrift,    made   foundations   of  the  Chrillian 

.  church.     See  Eph.  ii.  20,  and  Rev.  xxi.  14, 

3.  Here  is  an  appointment  of  Chriflian  baptifm.  This  ordi- 
nance indeed  had  a  beginning  before  ;  John  the  Baptift  and 
Chrill  both  baptized.  But  now  efpecially  by  this  inflitution  is 
it  eflablifhed  as  an  ordinance  to  be  upheld  in  the  Chriflian 
church  to  the  end  of  the  world. — The  ordinance  of  the  Lord's 
fupper  had  been  eflablifhed  before,  jufl  before  Chrifl's  cruci- 
fixion. 

IV,  The  next  thing  to  be  obferved,  is  the  enduing  the  apof- 
tles,  and  others,  with  extraordinary  and  miraculous  gifts  of  the 
Holy  Ghofl ;  fuch  as  the  gift  of  tongues,  the  gift  of  healing,  of 
prophecy,  &c.  The  Spirit  of  God  was  poured  out  in  great 
abundance  in  this  refpeft  ;  fo  that  not  only  minifters,  but  a  very 
great  part  of  the  Chriflians  through  the  world  were  endued 
with  them,  both  old  and  youilg ;  not  only  officers,  and  more 
honourable  perfons,  but  the  meaner  fort  of  people,  fervants 
and  handmaids,  were  commonly  endued  with  them,  agreeable 
to  Joel's  prophecy,  Joel  ii.  28,  29,  of  which  prophecy  the  A- 
poftle  Peter  takes  notice,  that  it  is  accomplifhed  in  this  difpen- 
fation,  Afts  ii.  11. 

How  wonderful  a  difpenfation  was  this  !  Under  the  Old 
Tellament,  but  few  had  fuch  honours  put  upon  them  by  God. 
Mofes  wifhed  that  all  the  Lord's  people  were  prophets.  Numb. 
xi.  29.  whereas  Jofhua  thought  it  much  that  Eldad  and  Medad 
propheficd.     But  mow  we  tind  the  wifh  of  Mofes  fulfilled. 

And 


22S  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  PeHod  III. 

And  this  continued  in  a  very  confiderable  degree  to  the  end  of  < 
the  apoftolick  age,  or  the  firft  hundred  years  after  the  birth  of 
Chrift,  which  is  therefore  called  the  age  of  miracles. 

This  was  a  great  means  of  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  in  that 
age,  and  of  eftablifhing  the  Chriftian  church  in  all  parts  of  the 
world  ;  and  not  only  in  that  age,  but  in  all  ages  to  the  end  of 
the  world :  For  Chrillianity  being  by  this  means  eflablifhed 
through  f©  great  a  part  of  the  known  world  by  miracles,  it  was 
after  that  more  eafily  continued  by  tradition ;  and  then,  by 
means  of  thefe  extraordinary  gifts  of  the  Holy  Ghoft,  the  apof- 
tles,  and  others,  were  enabled  to  write  the  New  Teftament,  to 
be  an  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  manners  to  the  church  to  the 
end  of  the  world.  And  furthermore,  thefe  miracles  fland  re» 
corded  in  thofe  writings  as  a  fhanding  proof  and  evidence  of 
the  truth  of  the  Chriftian  religion  to  all  ages. 

V,  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve  is  the  revealing  thofe 
glorious  doftrines  of  the  gofpel  fully  and  plainly,  which  had 
under  the  Old  Teftament  been  obfcurely  revealed.  The  doc- 
trine of  Chrift's  fatisfaftion  and  righteoufnefs,  his  afcenfion  and 
glory,  and  the  way  of  falvation,  under  the  Old  Teftament,  were 
in  a  great  meafure  hid  under  the  veil  of  types  and  fhadows  and 
more  obfcure  revelations,  as  Mofes  put  a  veil  on  his  face  to 
hide  the  (hining  of  it ;  but  now  the  veil  of  the  temple  is  rent 
from  the  top  to  the  bottom ;  and  Chrift,  the  antitype  of  Mofes, 
ihines  :  The  fhining  of  his  face  is  without  a  veil ;  2  Cor.  iii.  12, 
313.  &  18.  Now  thefe  glorious  myfteries  are  plainly  revealed, 
which  were  in  a  great  meafure  kept  fecret  from  the  foundation 
of  the  world,  Eph.  iii.  3,4,5.  Rom.  xvi.  25.  "According  to 
the  revelation  of  the  myftery  which  was  kept  fecret  fince  the 
world  began,  but  now  is  made  manifeft ;"  and,  CoU  i.  26. 
''  Even  the  myftery  which  hath  been  hid  from  ages,  and  gener- 
ations, but  now  is  made  manifeft  to  his  faints." 

Thus  the  Sun  of  Righteoui'nefs,  after  it  is  rifen  from  under 
the  earth,  begins  to  ftiine  forth  clearly,  and  not  only  by  a  dim 
reflexion  as  it  did  before.  Chrift,  before  his  death,  revealed 
many  things  more  clearly  than  ever  they  had  been  revealed  in 
the  Old  Teftament  ;  but  the  great  myfteries  of  Chrift's  redemp- 
tion, and  reconciliation  by  his  death,  and  juftification  by  his 
righteoufnefs,  were  not  fo  plainly  revealed  before  Chrift's  refur- 
re£tion.  Chrift  gave  this  reafon,  for  it,  that  he  would  not  put 
jiew  wine  into  old  bottles  ;  and  it  was  gradually  done  after 

Chrift's 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    op    REDEMPTION.         22^ 

Ghrift's   refurreciion.       In   all   likelihood,    Chrift   much    more 
clearly  inflru6ted  them  perfonally  after  his  refurrection,  and  be- 
fore his  afcenfion  ;  as  we   read   that    he   continued   with   them 
forty  days,  fpeaking  of  the  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom, 
Afts  i.  3.  and  that  <'  he  opened  their  underllandings,  that  thev 
might   underlland  the   fcriptures,"    Luke   xxiv.    45.      But    the 
clear  revelation  c5f  ihefe  things  was  principally  after   tlie  pour- 
ing out   of  the  Spirit   on   the   day   of  Pentecoft,   agreeable    to 
Chrift's  promife,  John  xvi,  12,  13.  "  I  have  yet  many  things  to 
lay  unto  you,  but   ye  cannot  bear  them  now.     Howbeit,  v/hcn 
the  Spirit  of  truth  is  come,   he  fhall  guide   you  into  all  truth." 
This  clear  revelation  of  the  myileries  of  the  gofpel,   as  they  arc 
delivered,    we  have  chiefly  through   the  hands  of  the  Apoftlc 
Paul,  by  whole  writings  a  child  may  come  to  know  more  of  the 
doctrines   of  the  golpeJ,    in   many  rerpe6ls,    than   the   greateH 
prophets  knew  under  the  darknefs  of  the  Old  Tedament. 

Thus  we  fee  how  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  which  began  to  dawn 
immediately  after  the  fall,  and  gradually  grew  and  increafed 
through  all  the  ages  of  the  Old  Teftament,  as  we  obferved  as 
we  went  along,,  is  now  come  to  the  light  of  perfect  day,  and  the 
brightnefs  of  the  fun  fhining  forth  in  his  unveiled  glory. 

VI.  The  next  thing  that  I  would  obferve,  is  the  appointment 
of  the  office  of  deacons  in  the  Chrillian  church,  which  we  have 
an  account  of  in  the  6th  chapter  of  the  A6ls,  to  take  care  for 
the  outward  fupply  of  the  members  of  Chrift's  church,  and  the 
exercife  of  that  great  Chriftian  virtue  of  charity. 

VII.  The  calling,    and  qualifying,    and   fending  the  Apoftle 
Paul.     This   was   begun   in   his  converi'ion   as  he  was  going   to 
Damafcus,  and  was  one  of  the  greateft  means   of  the   fuccels  of 
Chrift's  redemption    that  followed  :  For  this  fuccefs  was  more 
by  the  labours,  preaching,  and  writings  of  this  Apoftle,  than  all 
the  other  apoftles  put  together.     For,  as  he  fays,  \  Cor.  xv,  10. 
he  "  laboured  more  abundantly  than  they  all  ;'*  fo   his  fuccefs 
was  more  abundant  than  that  of  them  all.     As  he  was  the  apof- 
tle of  the  Gentiles,   fo  it  was  mair^y  by  his  miniftry  that  the 
Gentiles  were  called,  and  the  gofpel  fpread  through  the  world  ; 
and  our  nation,  and  the  other  nations  of  Europe,   have  the  gol- 
pel  among  them   chiefly  through  his  means  ;  and  he   was  more 
employed  by  the  Holy  Ghoft  in  revealing  the  glorious  doftrines 
of  the  gofpel  by  his  writings,  for  the  ufe  of  the  church   in  all 
a^es,  than  all  the  other  apoftles  taken  together. 

VIII.  The 


830 


A    HISTORY    or  THe  Period  III. 


VIII.  The  next  thing  I  would  obferve,  is  the  inllitution  of 
ccclcfiadicail  councils,  for  deciding  controverfics,  and  ordering 
the  affairs  of  the  church  of  Chrift,  of  which  wc  have  an  ac- 
count in  the  J5th  chapter  of  Afts, 

IX,  The  laft  thing  I  fliall  mention  under  this  head,  is  the 
committing  the  New  Teftament  to  writing.  This  was  all  writ- 
ten after  the  rcfurreftion  of  Chrifl  ;  and  all  v^ritten  either  by 
the  apoltles,  or  by  the  evangelifts,  who  were  companions  of  the 
apoiUes.  All  the  New  Tellament  was  written  by  the'  apoflles 
themfelves,  excepting  what  was  written  by  Mark  and  Luke,  viz. 
the  gofpels  of  Mark  and  Luke,  and  the  book  of  the  A£ls  of  the 
ApoiUcs,  He  that  wrote  the  gofpel  of  Mark,  is  fuppofed  to  be 
he  whofe  mother  was  Mary,  in  whofe  houfe  they  were  praying 
for  Peter,  when  he,  brought  out  of  prifon  by  the  angel,  came 
and  knocked  at  the  door  ;  of  which  we  read,  Afts  xii.  12. 
*'  And  when  he  had  confidered  the  thing,  he  came  to  the  houfe 
of  Mary  the  mother  of  John,  whofe  firname  was  Mark,  where 
many  were  gathered  together,  praying.'*  He  was  the  compan- 
ion of  the  apoflles  Barnabas  and  Saul  :  A6ts  xv.  3^7.  *'  And 
Barnabas  determined  to  take  with  them  John,  whofe  firname 
was  Mark."  He  was  Barnabas's  fifler's  fon,  and  feems  fome- 
times  to  have  been  a  companion  of  the  Apoflle  Paul  :  Col.  iv. 
10.  '«  Ariftarchus,  my  fellow  prifoner,  faluteth  you,  and  Marcus, 
filler's  fon  to  Barnabas  ;  touching  whom  ye  received  command- 
ment :  If  he  come  unto  you,  receive  him."  The  apoflles  feem 
to  have  made  great  account  of  him,  as  appears  by  thofe  places, 
and  alfo  by  A6ls  xii.  25.  "  And  Barnabas  and  Saul  returned 
from  Jerufalem,  and  took  with  them  John,  whofe  firname  was 
Mark  ;"  and  Afts  xiii.  5.  "  And  when  they  were  at  Salamis, 
they  preached  the  word  of  God  in  the  fynagogues  of  the  Jews  ; 
and  they  had  alfo  John  to  their  minifler  ;"  and,  2  Tim.  iv.  11. 
"  Only  Luke  is  with  me  :  Take  Mark  and  bring  him  with 
thee  ;  for  he  is  profitable  to  me  for  the  miniflry," 

This  Luke,  who  wrote  the  gofpel  of  Luke  and  the  book  of 
Afts,  was  a  great  companion  of  the  Apoille  Paul.  He  is  fpoken 
of  as  being  with  him  in  the  iafl  mentioned  place,  and  fpeaks  of 
himfelf  as  accompanying  him  in  his  travels  in  the  hiflory  of  the 
Afts  ;  and  therefore  he  fpeaks  in  the  firfl  perfon  plural,  when 
fpcaking  of  Paul's  travels,  faying,  We  went  to  fuch  ^nd  fuch  a 
place  ;  V/e  fet  fail  ;  We  launched  from  fuch  a  place  ;  and 
landed  at  fuch  a  place.     He  was  greatly  beloved  by  the  Apoflle 

Paul: 


Part  II.  1.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        231 

Paul  :  He  is  that  beloved  phyfician  fpoken  of,  Col.  iv.  1^. 
The  ApOille  ranks  Mark  and  Luke  among  his  fellow  labourers, 
Philemon,  24.  "  Marcus,  Ariflarchus,  Demas,  Lucas,  my  fellow 
labourers." 

The  reft  of  the  books  were  all  written  by  the  apoftles  them- 
felves.  The  books  of  the  New  Tcftament  are  either  hiftorical, 
or  doftrinal,  or  prophetical.  The  hiftorical  books  are  the 
writings  of  the  four  evangelifts,  giving  us  the  hiftory  of  Chrifl, 
and  his  purchafe  of  redemption,  and  his  refurreflion  and  afcen- 
lion  ;  and  the  Atls  of  the  Apoftles,  giving  an  account  of  the 
great  things  by  which  the  Chriftian  church  was  fiirft  eftabllfhed 
and  propagated.  The  doftrinal  books  are  the  epiftles.  Thefe, 
moft  of  them,  we  have  from  the  great  Apoftle  Paul.  And  we 
have  one  prophetical  book,  which  takes  place  after  the  end  of 
the  hiftory  of  the  whole  Bible,  and  gives  an  account  of  the 
great  events  which  were  to  come  to  pafs  by  which  the  work  of 
redemption  wai  to  be  carried  on  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

AU  thefe  books  are  fuppofed  to  have  been  written  before  the 
defttuftion  of  Jerufalem,  excepting  thofe  which  were  written 
by  the  Apoftle  John,  who  lived  the  longeft  of  all  the  apoftles, 
and  wrote  what  he  wrote  after  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem,  as 
is  fuppofed.  And  to  this  beloved  difciple  it  was  that  Chrift  re- 
vealed thofe  wonderful  things  which  were  to  come  to  pafs  in 
his  church  to  the  end  of  time  ;  and  he  was  the  perfon  that  put 
the  finiftiing  hand  to  the  canon  of  the  fcriptures,  and  fealed  the 
whole  of  it.  So  that  now  the  canon  of  fcripture,  that  great  and 
(landing  written  rule,  which  was  begun  about  Mofes's  time,  is 
completed  and  fettled,  and  a  curfe  denounced  againft  him  that 
adds  any  thing  to  it,  or  diminilhes  any  thing  from  it.  And  fo 
all  things  are  eftablifhed  and  completed  which  relate  to  the  ap- 
pointed means  of  grace.  All  the  ftatcd  means  of  grace  were 
finifhcd  in  the  apoftolical  age,  or  before  the  death  of  the  Apoftle 
John,  and  are  to  remain  unaltered  to  the  day  of  judgment. 

Thus  far  we  have  conlidered  thofe  things  by  which  the  means 
of  grace  were  given  and  eftabliftied  in  the  Chriftian  church. 

§  II.  The  other  thing  propofcd  relating  to  the  fuccefs  of 
Chrift's  redemption  during  the  church's  continuance  under 
means  of  grace,  was  tp  fhow  how  this  fuccefs  was  carried  on  ; 
wliich  is  what  I  would  now  proceed  to  do» 

And 


^02  A     H  1  S  T  O  Pv  Y     OF    THE  Period  III. 

And  here  it  is  worthy  to  be  remembered,  that  the  Chriftian 
church,  during  its  continuance  under  the  means  of  grace,  is  in 
two  very  different  ftates. 

1,  In  a  fuffering,  afFiifted,  perfccuted  (late,  as,  for.  the  mofl 
part  it  is,  from  the  refurreftion  of  Chriil  until  the  fall  of  Anti- 
chrift. 

2.  In  a  flate  of  peace  and  profperity  ;  which  is  the  (late  that 
the  church,  for  the  moft  part,  is  to  be  in  after  the  fall  of  Anti- 
chrifl. 

Firjt,  I  would  fliow  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chriil's  redemption 
is  carried  on  during  the  continuance  of  the  church's  fuffering 
ftate,  from  the  refurreftion  of  Chrift  to  the  fall  of  Antichrift. 
This  fpace  of  time,  for  the  raoft  part,  is  a  ftate  of  the  church's 
fufferings,  and  is  fo  reprefented  in  fcripture.  Indeed  God  is 
pleafed,  out  of  love  and  pity  to  his  eleft,  to  grant  many  inter- 
mi  ffions  of  the  church's  fufferings  during  this  time,  whereby 
the  days  of  tribulation  are  as  it  were  fhortened.  But  from 
Chrifl's  refurreftion  until  the  fall  of  Antichrift,  is  the  appointed 
day  of  Zion's  troubles.  During  this  fpace  of  time,  for  the  moft 
part,  fome  part  or  other  of  the  church  is  under  perfecution  ; 
and  great  part  of  the  time,  the  whole  church,  or  at  leaft  the 
generality  of  God's  people,  have  been  perfecuted. 

For  the  firft  three  hundred  years  after  Chrift,  the  church  was 
for  the  moft  part  in  a  ftate  of  great  alffiftion,  the  objed  of  re- 
proach and  perfecution  ;  firft  by  the  Jews,  and  then  by  the 
heathen.  After  this,  from  the  beginning  of  Conftantine's  time, 
the  church  had  reft  and  profperity  for  a  little  while  ;  which  is 
reprefented  in  Rev.  vii.  at  the  beginning,  by  the  angel's  holding 
the  four  winds  for  a  little  while.  But  prefently  after,  the 
church  again  fuffered  perfecution  from  the  Arians  ;  and  after 
that,  Antichrift  rofe,  and  the  church  was  driven  away  into  the 
wildernefs,  and  was  kept  down  in  obfcurity,  and  contempt,  and 
fuffering,  for  a  long  time,  under  Antichrift,  before  the  reforma- 
tion by  Luther  and  others.  And  fince  the  R€formation,  the 
church's  pcrfecutions  have  been  beyond  all  that  ever  were  be- 
fore. And  though  fome  parts  of  God's  church  fometimes  have 
had  reft,  yet  to  this  day,  for  the  moft  part,  the  true  church  is 
very  much  kept  under  by  its  enemies,  and  fome  parts  of  it  un- 
der grievous  perfecution  ;  and  fo  we  may  expeft  it  will  con- 
tinue until  the  fall  of  Antichrift  ;  and  then  will  come  the  ap- 
pointed day  of  the  church's  prcfperity  on  earth,  the  fet  time  in 

which 


Part  II.  1.    WORK    op    REDEMPTION.        233 

which  God  will  favour  Zion,  the  time  vvhen  the  faints  fhall 
not  be  kept  under  by  wicked  men,  as  it  has  been  hitherto  ;  but 
wherein  they  {hall  be  uppcrmoft,  and  fhall  reign  on  earth,  as  it 
is  faidj  Rev.  v.  10.  "  And  the  kingdom  {hall  be  given  to  the 
people  of  the  faints  of  the  Mo{l  High,"  Dan.  vii.  27. 

This  fufFcring  {late  of  the  church  is  in  fcripture  reprcfented 
as  a  flate  of  the  church's  travail,  John  xvi.  20,  21.  and  Rev. 
xii.  1,  2.  What  the  church  is  in  travail  {Iriving  to  bring  forth 
during  this  time,  is  that  glory  and  profperity  of  the  church 
which  {hall  be  after  the  fall  of  Antichrifl,  and  then  {hall  {he 
bring  forth  her  child.  This  is  a  long  time  of  the  church's 
trouble  and  affliftion,  and  is  fo  fpoken  of  in  fcripture,  though  it 
be  fpoken  of  as  being  but  for  a  little  feafon,  in  comparifon  of 
the  eternal  profperity  of  the  church.  Hence  the  church,  under 
the  long  continuance  of  this  afHiftion,  cries  out,  as  in  Rev.  vi. 
10,  "  ^  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  do{l  thou  not  judge 
and  avenge  our  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?"  And 
we  are  told,  that "  white  robes  were  given  unto  every  one  of  them ; 
and  it  was  faid  unto  them,  that  they  {hould  reft  yet  for  a  little 
feafon,  until  their  fellow  fervants  alfo,  and  their  brethren,  that 
^ould  be  killed  as  they  were,  {hould  be  fulfilled."  So,  Dan.  xii^ 
6.  "  ^  How  long  {hall  it  be  to  the  end  of  thefc  wonders  ?" 

It  is  to  be  obfervcd,  that  during  the  time  of  thefe  fufFeringsof 
the  church,  the  main  inftrument  of  their  fufPerings  has  been  the 
Roman  government  :  Her  affliftions  have  almoft  all  along  been 
from  Rome,  That  is  therefore  in  the  New  Te{lament  called 
Babylon  j  becaufe,  as  of  old,  the  troubles  of  the  city  Jerufalem 
were  mainly  from  that  adverfe  city  Babylon,  fo  the  troubles  of 
the  Chriflian  church,  the  fpiritual  Jerufalem,  during  the  long 
time  of  its  tribulation,  is  mainly  from  Rome.  Before  the  time 
of  Conftantine,  the  troubles  of  the  Chriflian  church  were  from 
heathen  Rome  :  Since  that  time,  its  troubles  have  been  mainly 
from  Antichriflian  Rome.  And  as  of  old,  the  captivity  of  the 
Jews  ceafed  on  the  deftruftlon  of  Babylon,  {o  the  time  of  the 
trouble  of  the  Chri{lian  church  will  ceafe  with  the  de{lruftion 
of  the  church  of  Rome,  that  fpiritual  Babylon. 

In  {howing  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemption  is  carried 
on,  during  this  time  of  the  church's  tribulation,  I  would, 

I,  Show  how  it  was  carriedon  until  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufa- 
lem, with  which  ended  the  firft  great  difpenfation  of  Providence 
which  is  called  Chriji's  ccming  in  kis  kingdcrn. 

F  f  a.  How 


2.34  A    History    of    the  .         Period  in. 

2.  How  it  was  carried  on  from  thence  to  the  deftruflion  of 
the  heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Conflantine,  which  is  the 
Iccond  difpenfation  called  Chrifl's  coming, 

3.  How  it  is  carried  on  from  thence  to  the  dcftruftion  of 
Antichrift,  when  will  be  accomplifhed  the  third  great  event 
called  C hri/l' s  co7ning, .  ^nd  with  which  the  days  of  the  church's 
tribulation  and  travail  end. 

I.  I  would  fhow  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  purchafe  of  re- 
demption was  carried  on  from  Chrifl's  refurreftion  to  the  de- 
ftruftion  of  Jerufalem.  In  fpeaking  of  this,  I  would,  i.  Take 
notice  of  the  fucccfs  itfelf  ;  and,  2.  The  oppofition  made  againft 
it  by  the  enemies  of  it  ;  and,  3.  The  terrible  judgments  of  God 
on  thofe  enemies. 

1.  I  would  obferve  the  fuccefs  itfelf.  Soon  after  Chrifi:  had 
finifhed  the  purchafe  of  redemption,  and  was  gone  into  heaven, 
and  entered  into  the  holy  of  holies  with  his  own  blood,  there 
began  a  glorious  fuccefs  of  what  he  had  done  and  fufFered, 
Having  undermined  the  foundation  of  Satan's  kingdom,  it  be- 
gan to  fall  apace.  Swiftly  did  it  haflen  to  ruin  in  the  world, 
which  might  well  be  compared  to  Satan's  falling  like  lightning 
from  heaven.  Satan  before  had  exalted  his  throne  very  high 
in  this  world,  even  to  the  very  ftars  of  heaven,  reigning  with 
great  glory  in  his  heathen  Roman  empire  :  But  never  before 
had  he  fuch  a  downfall  as  he  had  foon  after  Chrifl's  afcenfion. 
He  had,  we  may  fuppofe,  been  very  lately  triumphing  in  a  fup- 
pofed  viftory,  having  brought  about  the  death  of  Chrifi,  which 
he  doubtlefs  gloried  in  as  the  greatefl  feat  that  ever  he  did  ;  and 
probably  imagined  he  had  totally  defeated  God's  defign  by  him. 
But  he  was  quickly  made  fenfible,  that  he  had  only  been  ruin- 
ing his  own  kingdom,  when  he  faw  it  tumbling  fo  fafl  fo  foon 
after,  as  a  confequence  of  the  death  of  Chrifi,  For  Chrifi,  by 
his  death,  heving  purchafed  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  having  af- 
cended,  and  received  the  Spirit,  he  poured  it  forth  abundantly 
for  the  converfion  of  thoufands  and  millions  of  fouls. 

Never  had  Chrifl's  kingdom  been  fo  fet  up  in  the  world. 
There  probably  were  more  fouls  converted  in  the  age  of  the 
apoflles  than  had  been  before  from  the  beginning  of  the  world 
until  that  time.  Thus  God  fo  foon  begins  glorioufly  to  accom- 
plifh  his  promife  to  his  Son,  wherein  he  had  promifed,  that  he 
Ihould  fee   his  feed,  and  that  the  pleafure  of  the  Lord  (hould 

profper 


t':' 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        2^' 

profper  in  his  hand,   if  he  would  make  his  foul  an  offering  for 

fin.     And, 

(x.)  Here  is  to  be  obferved  the  fuccefb  which  the  gofpel  had 
among  the  Jews  :  For  God   firfl  began   with  them.     He  being 
about  to  reje£l  the  main  body  of  that  people,   Hrfl  calls   in  his 
eleft  from  among  them,  before  he  forfook  them,  to  turn  to  the 
Gentiles,     It  was  fo  in  former  great  and  dreadful  judgments  of 
God  on  that  nation  :  The  bulk  of  them  were  deflroyed,  and  on- 
ly a  remnant  faved,  or  reformed.     So  it  was  in  the  rcjeftion  of 
the  ten  tribes,  long  before  this  rejection  :  The  bulk  of  the  ten 
tribes  were  rejected,  when  they  left  the  true  worfhip  of  God  in 
Jeroboam's  time,   and   afterwards   more  fully  in  Ahab's   time. 
But  yet  there  was  a   remnant  of  them  that  God   refervcd.     A 
number  left  their  pofifeffions  in  thefe  tribes,  and  went  and  fettled 
in  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin.     And  afterwards  there 
were  feven  thoufand   in  Ahab's  time,   who   had  not  bowed  the 
knee  to  Baal.     And   fo,   in  the  captivity  into  Babylon,  only  a 
remnant  of  them  ever  returned  to  their  own  land.     And  fo  now 
again,   by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  people  were  rejefted  en- 
tirely, but   fome  few  were  faved.      And  therefore  the   Holy 
Ghoft  compares  this  refervation  of  a  number  that  were   con- 
verted by  the  preaching  of  the  apofties,  to   thofc   former   rem- 
nants :    Rom.  ix.    27.  "  Efaias  alfo  crieth  concerning  Ifrael, 
Though  the  number  of  the  children  of  Il'rael  be  as  the  fand  of 
the  fea,  a  remnant  fliall  be  faved.'*     See  If.  x.  22. 

The  glorious  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  among  the  Jews  after 
Chrift's  afcenfion,  began  by  the  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  upon 
the  day  of  Pentecoll,  of  which  we  read  in  A6ls  ii.  So  wonder* 
ful  was  this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit,  and  fo  remarkable  and 
fwift  the  effed  of  it,  that  we  read  of  three  thoufand  who  were 
converted  to  the  Chriftian  faith  in  one  day,  Afl.s  ii.  41.  And 
probably  the  greater  part  of  thefe  were  favingly  converted. 
And  after  this,  we  read  of  God's  adding  to  the  church  daily 
fuch.as  fhould  be  faved,  verf.  47.  And  foon  after,  we  read, 
that  the  number  of  them  were  about  five  ffhoufand.  Thus  were 
not  only  a  multitude  converted,  but  the  church  was  then  emi- 
nent in  piety,  as  appears  by  Adls  ii.  46,  47.  &  iv.  32. 

Thus  the  Chriftian  church  was  firft  of  all  of  the  nation  of 
Ifracl  ;  and  therefore,  when  the  Gentiles  were  called,  they  were 
but  as  it  were  added  to  Ifrael,  to  the  feed  of  Abraham.  They 
were  added  to  the  Chrifiian  church  of  Ifrael,  as  the  profelytes 

of 


£36  A    HISTORY    or  thb  Period  III. 

of  old  were  to  the  Mofaick  church  cf  Ifrael  ;  and  fo  were  as  it 
were  only  grafted  on  the  ftock  of  Abraham,  and  were  not  a 
diftinft  tree  ;  for  they  arc  all  ftill  the  feed  of  Abraham  and  If- 
rael ;  as  Ruth  the  Moabitefs,  and  Uriah  the  Hittite,  and  other 
profelytes  of  old,  were  the  fame  people,  and  ranked  as  the  feed 
of  Ifrael, 

So  the  Chriftian  church  at  firll  began  at  Jerufalem,  and  from 
thence  was  propagated  to  all  nations  :  So  that  this  church  of 
Jerufalem  was  the  church  that  was  as  it  were  the  mother  of  all 
other  churches  in  the  world  ;  agreeable  to  the  prophecy,  If.  ii. 
3,  4.  "  Out  of  Zion  fhall  go  forth  the  law,  and  the  word  of  the 
Lord  from  Jerufalem  :  And  he  fhall  judge  among  the  nations, 
and  rebuke  many  people.'*  So  that  the  whole  church  of  God 
is  ftill  God's  Jerufalem  :  They  are  his  fpiritual  Jerufalem,  and 
are  as  it  were  only  added  to  the  church,  which  was  begun  in  the 
literal  Jerufalem. 

After  this,  we  read  of  many  thoufands  of  Jews  that  believed 
in  Jerufalem,  Afts  xxi,  20.  And  fo  we  read  of  multitudes  of 
Jews  who  were  converted  in  other  cities  of  Judea  ;  and  not 
only  fo,  but  even  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  For  wherever 
the  apoftles  went,  if  there  were  any  Jews  there,  their  manner 
was,  firft  to  go  into  the  fynagogues  of  the  Jews,  and  preach 
the  gofpcl  to  them,  and  many  in  one  place  and  another  believ- 
ed J  as  in  Damafcus  and  Antioch,  and  many  other  places  that 
we  read  of  in  the  A£ls  of  the  Apoftles. 

In  this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit,  which  began  at  the  Pente« 
coft  following  Chrift's  afcenfion,  began  that  firft  great  difpenfa- 
tion  which  is  called  ChriJVs  coming  in  his  kingdom,  Chrift's  com- 
ing thus  in  a  fpiritual  manner  for  the  glorious  fetting  up  of  his 
kingdom  in  the  world,  is  reprefented  by  Chrift  himfelf  as  his 
coming  down  from  heaven,  whither  he  had  afcended,  John  xiv» 
i8.  There  Chrift  having  been  fpeaking  of  his  afcenfion,  fays, 
"  I  will  not  leave  you  comfortlefs  ;  I  will  come  unto  you,'* 
fpeaking  of  his  coming  by  the  coming  of  the  Comforter,  the 
Spirit  of  truth.  And,  verf.  28.  *'  Ye  have  heard  how  I  faid 
unto  you,  I  go  away,  and  come  again  unto  you."  And  thus 
the  apoftles  began  to  fee  the  kingdom  of  heaven  come  with 
power,  as  he  promifed  they  fhould,  Mark  ix.  1. 

(2.)  What  is  next  to  be  obferved  is  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel 
among  the  Samaritans,  After  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  had 
been  fo  glorioufty  begun  among  the  proper  Jews,  the  Spirit  of 

God 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    op    REDEMPTION.        237 

God  was  next  wonderfully  poured  out  on  the  Samaritans,  who 
were  not  Jews  by  nation,  but  the  pofterity  of  thofe  whom  the 
king  of  Affyria  removed  from  different  pans  of  his  dominions, 
and  fettled  in  the  land  that  was  inhabited  by  the  ten  tribes, 
whom  he  carried  captive.  But  yet  they  had  received  the  Hvc 
books  of  MofeSj  and  praclifed  moft  of  the  rites  of  the  law  of 
Mofes,  and  fo  were  a  fort  of  mongrel  Jews.  We  do  not  find 
tfrcii)  reckoned  as  Gentiles  in  the  New  Teftament  :  For  the 
calling  of  the  Gentiles  is  fpoken  of  as  a  new  thing  after  this, 
beginning  with  the  converfion  of  Cornelius.  But  yet  it  was  aij 
inftance  of  making  that  a  people  that  were  no  people:  For 
they  bad  corrupted  the  religion  which  Mofes  commanded,  and 
did  not  go  up  to  Jerufdlem  to  worfhip,  but  had  another  ternplc 
of  their  own  in  Mount  Gerizzim ;  which  is  the  mountain  of 
which  the  woman  of  Samaria  fpeaks,  when  fhe  fays,  "  Our  fa- 
thers worfhipped  in  this  mountain."  Chrifl  there  does  not  ap- 
prove of  their  feparation  from  the  Jews ;  but  tells  the  woman. 
of  Samaria^  that  they  worfhipped  they  knew  not  what,  and  that 
falvation  is  of  the  Jews,  But  now  falvation  is  brought  from 
the  Jews  to  them  by  the  preaching  of  Philip,  (excepting  that 
before  Chri ft  had  fomefuccefs  among  them,)  with  whofe  preach- 
ing there  was  a  glorious  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in 
the  city  of  Samaria  j  where  we  are  told,  that  **  the  people  be- 
lieved Philip  preaching  the  things  concerning  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift,  and  were  baptized,  both  men  and  women  ;  and  that 
there  was  great  joy  in  that  city,"  Afts  viii.  8. — X2, 

Thus  Chrift  had  a  glorious  harveft  in  Samaria ;  which  is 
what  Chrift  feems  to  have  had  refpeft  to,  in  what  he  faid  to  his 
difciples  at  Jacob's  well  three  or  four  years  before,  on  occafion 
of  the  people  of  Samaria's  appearing  at  a  diftance  in  the  fields 
coming  to  the  place  where  Chrift  was,  at  the  inftigation  of  the 
woman  of  Samaria.  On  that  occafion,  he  bids  his  difciples  lift 
up  their  eyes  to  the  fields,  for  that  they  were  white  to  the  har- 
veft,  John  iv.  35,  36.  The  difpolition  which  the  people  of 
Samaria  fhowed  towards  Chrift  and  his  gofpel,  fhowed  that 
they  were  ripe  for  the  harveft.  But  now  the  harveft  is  come 
by  Philip's  preaching.  There  ufed  to  be  a  moft  bitter  enmity 
between  the  Jews  and  Samaritans ;  but  now,  by  their  conver- 
fion, the  Chriftian  Jews  and  Samaritans  are  all  happily  united  : 
For  in  Chrift  Jefus  is  neither  Jew  nor  Samaritan,  but  Chrift  is 

all 


238  aHISTORYof  the         Period  III. 

all  in  all.     This  was  a  glorious  inftance  of  the  wolf's  dwelling 
with  the  lamb,  and  the  leopard's  lying  down  with  the  kid. 

(3.)  The  next  thing  to  beobferved  is  the  fuccefs  there  was  of 
the  gofpel  in  calling  the  Gentiles.  This  was  a  great  and  glori- 
ous difpenfation  of  divine  providence,  much  fpoken  of  in  the 
prophecies  of  the  Old  Teftament,  and  fpoken  of  by  the  apof- 
tles,  time  after  time,  as  a  moft  glorious  event  of  Chrifl's  redemp- 
tion. This  was  begun  in  the  converfion  of  Cornelius  and  his 
family,  greatly  to  the  admiration  of  Peter,  who  was  ufed  as  the 
inflrument  of  it,  and  of  thofe  who  were  with  him,  and  of  thofe 
who  were  informed  of  it ;  as  you  may  fee,  Afts  x.  &  xi.  And 
the  next  inftance  of  it  that  we  have  any  account  of,  was  in  the 
converfion  of  great  numbers  of  Gentiles  in  Cyprus,  and  Cyrene, 
and  Antioch,  by  the  difciples  that  v*'ere  fcattered  abroad  by  the 
perfecution  which  arofe  about  Stephen,  as  we  have  an  account 
in  A6ls  xi.  19,  20,  21.  And  prefently  upon  this  the  difciples 
began  to  be  called  Chriftians  firft  at  Antioch,  verf.  26. 

And  after  this,  vafl:  multitudes  of  Gentiles  were  converted  in 
many  different  parts  of  the  world,  chiefly  by  the  miniftry  of  the 
Apoflle  Paul,  a  glorious  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  accompany- 
ing his  preaching  in  one  place  and  another.  Multitudes  flock-- 
ed  into  the  church  of  Chrift  in  a  great  number  of  cities  where 
the  Apoftle  came.  So  the  number  of  the  members  of  the 
Chriflian  church  that  were  Gentiles,  foon  far  exceeded  the 
number  of  its  Jewifli  members ;  yea  fo,  that  in  lefs  than  ten 
years  time  after  Paul  was  fent  forth  from  Antioch  to  preach  to 
the  Gentiles,  it  was  faid  of  him  and  his  companions,  that  they 
had  turned  the  world  upfide  down :  Ads  xvii.  6.  "  Thefe  that 
have  turned  the  world  upfide  down  are  come  hither  alfo.*' 
But  the  moft  remarkable  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  in  a  particu- 
lar city  that  we  have  any  account  of  in  the  New  Teftament, 
feems  to  be  that  in  the  city  of  Ephefus,  which  was  a  very  great 
city.  Of  this  we  have  an  account  in  A£lsxix,  There  was  alfo 
a  very  extraordinary  ingathering  of  fouls  at  Corinth,  one  of  the 
greateft  cities  in  all  Greece.  And  after  this  many  were  con- 
verted in  Rome,  the  chief  city  of  all  the  world  ;  and  the  gofpel 
was  propagated  into  all  parts  of  the  Roman  empire.  Thus  the 
gofpel  fun,  which  had  lately  rifen  on  the  Jews,  now  rofe  upon, 
and  began  to  enlighten  the  heathen  world,  after  they  had  con- 
tinued in  grofs  heathenifh  darknefs  for  fo  many  ages. 

This 


Partll.  1.     W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  239 

This  was  a  great  thing,  and  a  new  thing,    fuch  as  never  had 
been  before.     All  nations  but  the'Jews,  and  a  few  who  had  at  one 
time  and  another  joined  with  them,  had  been  rejeded  from  about 
Mofes's  time.   The  Gentile  world  had  been  covered  over  with  the 
thick  darknefs  of  idolatry  ;  but  now,  at  the  joyful  glorious  found 
of  the  gofpel,  they  began  in  all  parts  to  forfake  their  old  idols  and 
to  abhor  them,  and  to  caft  them  to  the  moles  and  to  the  bats,  and 
to  learn  to  worfhip  the  true  God,    and  to  truft  in  his  Son  Jefus 
Chrift  ;  and  God  owned  them  for  his  people  ;  thofe  who  had 
fo  long  been  afar  off,  were  made  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Chrift:. 
Men  were  changed  from  being  heathenifh  and  brutifh,  to  be  the 
children  of  God  ;  were  called  out  of  Satan's  kingdom  of  dark- 
nefs,  and  brought  into  God's  marvellous  light ;  and  in  almoft 
all   countries  throughout  tho  known  world  were  aflemblies  of 
the  people  of  God  ;  joyful  praifes  were   fung  to  the  true  God, 
and  Jefus  Chrift  the  glorious  Redeemer.     Now  that  great  build- 
ing which  God  began  foon  after  the  fall  of  man,  rifes  glorioufly, 
not  in  the  fame  manner  that  it  had  done  in  former  ages,  but  in 
quite  a  new  manner  ;  now  Daniel's  prophecies  concerning  the 
laft  kingdom,   which  Ihould  fucceed  the  four  heathenifh  mon- 
archies, begins  to  be   fulfilled ;  now  the   ftone   cut  out  of  the 
mountain  without  hands,  began  to  fmite  the  image  on  its  feet, 
and  to  break  it  in  pieces,  and  to  grow  great,  and  to  make  great 
advances  towards   filling  the  earth  ;  and  now  God   gathers  to- 
gether the  eleft  from  the  four  winds  of  heaven,  by  the  preach- 
ing of  the  apoftles  and  other  minifters,  the  angels  of  the  Chrif- 
tian  church  fent  forth  with  the  great  found  of  the  gofpel  trum- 
pet,   before   the  deftruftion   of  Jerufalem,    agreeable   to  what 
Chrift  foretold,  Matth.  xxiv,  31. 

This  was  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  during  this  firft  pe- 
riod of  the  Chriftian  church,  which  terminated  in  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  Jerufalem. 

2.  I  would  proceed  now,  in  the  fecond  place,  to  take  notice 
of  the  oppofition  which  was  made  to  this  fuccefs  of  Chrift's 
purchafe  by  the  enemies  of  it. — Satan,  who  lately  was  fo  ready 
to  triumph  and  exult,  as  though  he  had  gained  the  vi£lory  in 
putting  Chrift  to  death,  now  finding  himfelf  fallen  into  the  pit 
which  he  had  digged,  and  finding  his  kingdom  falling  fo  faft, 
and  feeing  Chrift's  kingdom  make  fuch  amazing  progrefs,  fuch 
as  never  had  been  before,  we  may  conclude  he  was  filled  with 
the  greateft  confufion  and  aftoniftamcnt,   and   hell  feemed  to  be 

cfFeclually 


i40  A    H  i  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  III'. 

CiTsdaally  alarmed  by  it  to  make  the  mod  violent  oppbfition 
againll  it.  And,  firft,  the  devil  Itirred  up  the  Jews,  who  had 
before  crucified  Chrift,  to  perfecute  the  church  :  For  it  is  ob- 
servable, that  the  perfecutioii  Avhich  the  church  iuffered  during 
this  period,  was  moflly  from  the  Jews.  Thus  we  read  in  the 
Ads,  when,  at  Jerufalem,  the  Holy  Ghoft  was  poured  out  at 
Pentecoft,  how  the  Jews  mocked,  and  faid,  "  Thcfe  men  are  full 
of  new  wine  ;*'  and  how  the  fcribes  and  Pharifees,  and  the  cap- 
tain of  the  temple,  were  alarmed,  and  beftirred  themfelves  to 
oppois  and  perfecute  the  apoftles,  and  firfl  apprehended  and 
threatened  them,  and  afterwards  imprifoned  asd  beat  them  ; 
and  breathing  out  threatenings  and  (laughter  againft  the  difci* 
pies  of  the  Lord,  they  floned  Stephen  in  a  tumultuous  rage  ; 
*nd  were  not  content  to  perfecute  thofe  that  they  could  find  in 
Judea,  but  fent  abroad  to  Damafcus  and  other  places,  to  perfe- 
cute all  that  they  could  find  everywhere.  Herod,  who  was 
chief  among  them,  ftretched  forth  his  hands  to  vex  the  .church, 
and  killed  James  with  the  fword,  and  proceeded  to  take  Peter 
alfo,  and  caft  him  into  prifon. 

So  in  other  countries,  we  find,  that  almofl  wherever  the  apof- 
tles came,  the  Jews  oppofed  the  gofpel  in  a  mofl  malignant 
manner,  contradifting  and  blafpheming.  How  many  things 
did  the  blefTed  Apollle  Paul  fuffer  at  their  hands  in  one  place 
and  another  !  How  violent  and  blood  thirfty  did  they  fhew 
themfelves  towards  him,  when  he  came  to  bring  alms  to  his  na- 
tion !  In  this  perfecution  and  cruelty  was  fulfilled  that  of  Chrift, 
Matth.  xxiii.  34.  *'  Behold,  I  fend  you  prophets,  and  wife  men, 
and  fcribes  ;  and  fome  of  them  yc  fhall  kill  and  crucify,  and 
fome  of  them  fhall  ye  fcourge  in  your  fynagogues,  and  perfe- 
cute them  from  city  to  city." 

3.  I  proceed  to  take  notice  of  thofc  judgments  which  were 
executed  on  thofe  enemies  of  Chrifl,  the  pcrfecuting  Jews. 

(j .)  The  bulk  of  the  people  were  given  up  to  judicial  blind- 
nefs  of  mind  and  hardnefs  of  heart.  Chrifl  denounced  fuch  a 
wo  upon  them  in  the  days  of  his  flefh  ;  as  Matth.  xiii,  14,  15, 
This  curfe  was  alfo  denounced  on  them  by  the  Apoflle  Paul, 
A-Sbs  xxviii,  25,  26,  27.  and  under  this  curfe,  under  this  judicial 
blindnefs  and  hardnefs,  they  remain  to  this  very  day,  having 
been  fubje6t  to  it  for  about  1700  years,  being  the  mofl  awful  in- 
ilance  of  fuch  a  judgment,  and  monuments  of  God's  terrible 
Vengeance,   of  any  people  that  ever   were.     That  they  fhould 

continue 


Pan  II.  1.    WORK    OP    REDEMPTION".        241 

continue  from  generation  to  generation  fo  obftinately  t6  reje£l 
Chrift,  fo  that  it  is  a  very  rare  thing  that  any  one  of  them  is 
converted  to  the  Chriftian  faith,  though  their  own  fcriptures  of 
the  Old  Teftamcnt,  which  they  acknowledge,  are  fo  full  of  plain 
teftimonies  againft  them,  is  a  remarkable  evidence  of  their  be- 
ing dreadfully  left  of  God, 

(2. J  They  were  rcje6lcd  and  caft  off  from  being  any  longer 
God's  vifible  people.  They  were  broken  off  from  the  ftock  of 
Abraham,  and  fmce  that  have  no  more  been  reputed  his  feed, 
than  the  Iffimaelites  or  Edomites,  who  are  as  much  his  natural 
feed  as  they.  The  greater  part  of  the  two  tribes  were  now  caft 
off,  as  the  ten  tribes  had  been  before,  and  another  people  were 
taken  in  their  room,  agreeable  to  the  prediftions  of  their  owa 
prophets;  as  of  Mofes,  Deut.  xxxii.  21.  <*  They  have  moved 
me  to  jealoufy  with  that  which  is  not  God  ;  they  have  provok- 
ed me  to  anger  with  their  vanities  ;  and  I  will  move  them  to 
jealoufy  with  thofe  which  are  not  a  people,  I  will  provoke 
them  to  anger  with  a  foolifh  nation  ;"  and  of  Ifa.  Ixv.  1.  "  I 
am  fought  of  them  that  alked  not  for  me  ;  I  am  found  of  them. 

that  fought  me  not." They  were  vifibly  rejefted  a^d   caft 

off,  by  God's  directing  his  apoftles  to  turn  away  from  them,  and 
let  them  alone  ;  as  Afts  xiii.  46,  47.  "  Then  Paul  and  Barnabas 
waxed  bold,  and  faid,  It  was  neceffary  that  the  word  of  God 
fhould  firft  have  been  fpoken  to  you  :  But  feeing  ye  put  it  from 
you,  and  judge  yourfelves  unworthy  of  everlafting  life,  lo,  we 
turn  to  the  Gentiles  :  For  fo  hath  the  Lord  commanded  us." 
And  fo  Afts  xviii.  6,  &  xxviii.  28. 

Thus  far  we  have  had  the  fcripture  hlftory  to  guide  us;  Hence- 
forward we  fhall  have  the  guidance  only  of  two  things,  viz.  of 
fcripture  prophecy,  and  God's  providence,  as  related  in  human 

hiftories. But  I  proceed. 

(3.)  The  third  and  laft  judgment  of  God  on  thofe  enemies  of  the 
iuccefs  of  the  gofpel  which  I  fhall  mention,  is  the  terrible  dc- 
ftruftion  of  their  city  and  country  by  the  Romans.  They  had 
great  warnings  and  many  means  ufed  with  them  before  this  dc- 
ftruftion.  Firft,  John  the  Baptift  warned  them,  and  told  them,  that 
the  axe  was  laid  at  the  root  of  the  tree  ;  and  that  every  tree  which 
ihould  not  bring  forth  good  fruit,  ftiould  be  hewn  down  and  caft 
into  the  fire.  Then  Chrift  warned  them  very  particularly,  and  told 
them  of  their  approaching  deftruftion,  and  at  the  thoughts  of  it 
wept  over  them.   And  then  the  apoftles  after  Chrift's  afcenfion 

G  g  abundantly 


2^2  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    o?    THE  Period  III, 

abundantly  warned  them.  But  they  proved  obftinate,  and  went 
on  in  their  opporition  to  Chriftandhis  church,  and  in  their  bitter 
perfecuting  pradices.  Their  fg  malignantly  perfccuting  the  Apoftle 
Paul,  of  which  we  have  an  account  towards  the  end  of  the  A6ts 
of  the  apoilles,  is  fuppofed  to  have  been  not  more  than  feven  or 
eight  years  before  their  deftruftion. 

And  after  this  God  was  pleafed  to  give  tliem  one  more  very 
remarkable  warning  by  the  Apoftle  Paul,  in  his  epiftle  to  the 
Hebrew?,  which  is  an  epiflle  writtca  to  that  nation  of  the  Jews, 
as  is  fuppofed,  about  four  years  before  their  deltruftion  j  where- 
in the  plained  and  cleareft  arguments  are  fet  before  them  from 
their  own  law,  and  from  their  prophets,  for  whom  they  profell- 
ed  fuch  a  regard,  to  prove  that  Chrifl  Jcfus  mud  be  the  Son  of 
God,  and  that  all  their  law  pointed  to  him  and  typified  him,  and 
that  their  Jewifh  difpenfation  mufk  needs  have  now  ceafed.  For 
though  the  epiftle  was  more  immediately  directed  to  the  Chrift- 
ian  Hebrews,  yet  the  matter  of  the  epiftle  plainly  fhows  that  the 
apoftle  intended  it  for  the  ufe  and  conviction  of  the  unbelieving 
Jews,  and  in  this  epiftle  he  mentions  particularly  the  approa-eh-. 
ing  deftru£lk)n,  as  chap.  x.  25.  "  So  much  the  more,  as  ye  fee 
the  day  approaching  ;'*  and  in  verfe  27.  he  fpeaks  of  the  ap- 
proaching judgment  and  fiery  indignation  which  ftiould  devour 
the  adverfaries. 

But  the  generality  of  them  refufmg  to  receive  conviftion,  God 
foon  deftroyed  them  with  fuch  terrible  circumftances,  as  the 
deftruftion  of  no  country  or  city  fince  the  foundation  of  the 
world  can  parallel ;  agreeable  to  what  Chrift  foretold,  Matth. 
2:xiv.  21.  "For  then  fhall  be  tribulation,  iuch  as  was  not  from 
the  beginning  of  the  world  to  this  time,  no,  nor  ever  ftiall  be." 
The  firft  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem  by  the  Babylonians  was  very- 
terrible,  as  it  is  in  a  moft  affefting  manner  defcribed  by  the  Proph- 
et Jeremiah,  in  his  Lamentations;  but  this  was  nothing  to  the 
dreadful  mifery  and  wrath  which  they  fuffered  in  this  deftrudtion  ; 
God,  according  as  Chrift  foretold,  bringing  on  them  all  the 
righteous  blood  that  had  been  ftied  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world.  Thus  the  enemies  of  Chrift  are  made  his  footftool  after 
his  afcenfion,  agreeable  to  God's  promifc  in  Pfal.  ex.  at  the  be- 
ginning  ;  and  Chrift  rules  them  with  a  rod  of  iron.  They  had 
been  kicking  againft  Chrift,  but  they  did  but  kick  againft  the 
pricks.  The  briars  and  thorns  fet  themfelves  againft  them  in 
battle  :  But  he  went  through  them ;  he  bound  them  together. 

This 


Part  II.  1.      W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  \^        243 

This  deftruftion  of  Jcrufalem  was  in  all  refpe£ls  agreeable  to 
what  Chrift  had  foretold  of  it,  Matth.  xxiv.  by  the  account 
which  Jofephus  gives  of  it,  who  was  then  prefent,  and  was  one 
of  the  Jews,  who  had  a  fharc  in  the  calamity,  and  wrote  the  liif- 
tory  of  their  definition.  Many  circumftances  of  this  deflroc- 
tion  refemblcd  the  deflruftion  of  the  wicked  at  the  day  of  judg- 
ment, by  his  account,  being  accompanied  with  many  fearful 
fights  in  the  heavens,  and  with  a  feparation  of  the  righteous  from 
the  wicked.  Their  city  and  temple  were  burnt,  and  rafed  to 
the  ground,  and  the  ground  on  which  the  city  flood,  was 
ploughed  ;  and  fo  one  flone  was  not  left  upon  another,  Matth. 
xxiv.  2. 

The  people  had  ceafed  for  the  moft  part  to  be  an  Independent 
government  after  the  BabyloniOi  captivity  :  But  the  fceptre  en- 
tirely denarted  from  Judah  on  the  death  of  Archelaus ;  and  then 
Judea  was  made  a  Roman  province  :  After  this  they  were  call 
off  from  being  the  people  of  God  ;  but  now  their  very  city  and 
land  are  utterly  dcftroyed,  and  they  carried  away  from  it ;  and 
fo  have  continued  in  their  difpcrfions  through  the  world  for  no^.v 
above  1600  years. 

Thus  there  was  a  final  end  to  the  Old  Teftament  world  :  All 
was  finifhed  with  a  kind  of  day  of  judgment,  in  which  the  peo- 
ple of  God  were  faved,  and  his  enemies  terribly  deftroyed. 

Thus  does  he  who  was  fo  lately  mocked,  defpifed,  andfpit  upon 
by  thefe  Jews,  and  whofe  followers  they  fo  malignantly  perfecut- 
ed,  appear  glorioudy  exalted  over  his  enemies. 

Having  thus  (hown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  purchafe  was 
carried  on  until  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem,  I  come  now, 

II.  To  fhow  how  it  was  carried  on  from  that  time  until  the 
deftruftion  of  the  heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Conftantine  the 
Great,  which  is  the  fccond  great  event  which  is  in  fcripturc 
compared  to  Chrift's  coming  to  judgment. 

Jerufalem  was  deftroyed  about  the  year  of  our  Lord  68,  and 
fo  before  that  generation  pafTed  away  which  was  contemporary 
with   Chrift  ;  and  it   was  about  ihirty  five  years  after  Chrifl's 
death.     The.deftruftion  of  the  heathen  empire  under  Conftan- 
tine, was  about  260  years  after  this.     In  fhowing  how  the  fuc- 
cefs of  the  gofpel  was  carried  on  through  this  time,  I  would, 
X.  Take  notice  of  the  oppofition  made  againft  it  by  the  Roman 
empire.    2.  How  the  work  of  the  gofpel  went  on,  notwithftand- 
ing  all  that  oppofition,    3.  The  peculiar  circumftances  of  tribu- 
lation 


444  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  tHE  Period  III. 

lation  and  diftrefs  that  the  church  was  in  juft  before  their  deliv- 
erance by  Conllantine,  4.  The  great  revolution  in  Conftan- 
tine*s  time. 

1.  I  would  briefly  fhow  what  oppofition  was  made  againft 
the  gofpel,  and  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  by  the  Roman  empire. 
The  oppofition  that  was  made  to  the  gofpel  by  the  heathen  Ro- 
man empire,  was  mainly  after  the  deflruftion  of  Jerufalem, 
though  their  oppofition  began  before  ;  but  the  oppofition  that 
was  before  the  deflruflion  of  Jerufalem,  was  mainly  by  the 
Jews.  But  when  Jerufalem  was  deflrjp^yed,  the  Jews  were  put 
out  of  a  capacity  of  much  troubling  the  church.  Now  there- 
fore the  devil  turns  his  hand  elfewhere,  and  ufes  other  inflru- 
jnents.  The  oppofition  which  was  made  in  the  Roman  empire 
againfl  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl,  was  chiefiy  of  two  kinds. 

(i.)  They  employed  all  their  learning,   and  philofophy,  and 
•wit,   in   oppofjng   it.     Chrifl  came   into  the  world  in  an  age 
v^herein  learning  and  philofophy  were  at  their  height  in  the  Ro- 
man empire.     Th  is  was  employed  to  the  utmofl  againfl  the  king- 
dom of  Chrifl.     The  gofpel,  whiqh  held  forth  a  crucified  Sav- 
iour, was  not  at  all  agreeable  to  the  notions  of  the  philofophers. 
The  Chriflian  fcheme  of  trufling  in  fuch  a  crucified  Redeemer, 
appeared  foolifh  and  ridiculous  to  them.     Greece  was  a  coun- 
try the  mofl  famous  for  learning  of  any  in  the  Roman  empire  ; 
but  the  apoftle  obferves,  that  the  doftrine  of  Chrifl  crucified  ap- 
peared foolifhnefs  to  the  Greeks,  1  Cor.  i.  23.  and  therefore 
the  wife  men  and  philofophers  oppofed  the  gofpel  with  all  the 
%vit  they  had.     We  have  a  fpecimen  of  their  manner  of  oppof- 
ing,  in  the  flory  we  have  of  their  treatment  of  the  Apoflle  Paul 
at  Athens,  which  was  a  city  that  had  been  for  many  ages  the 
phicf  feat  of  philofophers  of  any  in  the  whole   world.      Wq 
read  in  A6ls  xvii.  518.  that  the  philofophers  of  the   Epicureans 
and  Stoicks  encountered  him,  faying,  "^jWhat  will  this  babbler 
fay  ?  He  feemeth  to  be  a  fetter  forth  of  ftrange  gods."     So  they 
were  wont  to  deride  and  ridicule  Chriflianity.     And  after  the 
deflru£lion  of  Jerufalem,  fcveral  of  thefe  philofophers  publifhed 
books  againfl  it  j  the  chief  of  whom  were  Celfus  and  Porphyry. 
Thefe  wrote  books  againfl  the   Chriflian   religion  with  a  great 
deal  of  virulence  and  contempt,  much  after  the  manner  that  the 
Peifls   of  the  prefent    age  oppofe   and    ridicule    Chriflianity, 
Something  of  their  writings  yet  remains.     As  great  enemies  and 
defpifers  as  they  were  of  the  Chriflian  religion,  yet  they  never 

denied 


Part  II.  1.      WORK     oir    REDEMPTION.         245 

denied  the  fa6ls  recorded  of  Chrift  and  his  apoftles  in  the  New 
Teftament,  particularly  the  miracles  which  they  wrought,  but 
allowed  them.  They  lived  too  near  the  times  wherein  thefc 
miracles  were  wrought  to  deny  them  ;  for  they  weie  fo  pub- 
lickly  done,  and  fo  lately,  that  neither  Jews  nor  heathens  in 
thofe  days  appeared  to  deny  them ;  but  they  afcribed  them  to 
the  power  of  magick. 

(2.)  The  authority  of  the  Roman  empire  employed  all 
their  Ilrength,  time  after  time,  to  perfecute,  and  if  polTible  to 
root  out  Chriftianity.  This  they  did  in  ten  general  fucceffive 
perfecutions.  We  have  heretofore  obferved,  that  Chrift  came 
into  the  world  when  the  ftrength  of  heathen  dominion  and 
authority  was  the  greateft  that  ever  it  was  under  the  Roman 
monarchy,  the  grcatefl  and  ftrongeft  human  monarchy  that  ever 
was  on  earth.  All  the  ftrength  of  this  monarchy  was  employ- 
ed for  a  long  time  tooppofe  and  perfecute  the  Chrillian  church, 
and  if  pofTible  to  dcftroy  it,  in  ten  fucceffive  attempts,  which 
are  called  the  ten  htathtn  perfecutions,  which  were  before  Con- 
ilantine. 

The  firft  of  thefe,  which  was  the  perfecution  under  Nero, 
was  a  little  before  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem,  in  which  the 
Apoflle  Peter  was  crucified,  and  the  Apoftle  Paul  beheaded, 
foon  after  he  wrote  his  fecond  epiftle  to  Timothy.  When  he 
wrote  that  epiftle,  he  was  a  prifoner  at  Rome  under  Nero,  and  was 
foon  after  he  wrote  it  beheaded,  agreeable  to  what  he  fays,  chap, 
iv.  6,  7.  "  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of  my  depar- 
ture is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finiflied  my 
courfe,  I  have  kept  the  faith.'*— -And  there  were  many  thoufands 
of  other  Chriftians  Hain  in  that  perfecution.  The  other  nine  per- 
fecutions were  all  after  the  deftrutlion  of  Jerufalem.  Some  of 
thefe  were  very  terrible  indeed,  and  far  exceeded  the  firft  per- 
fecution under  Nero.  One  emperour  after  another  fet  himfelf 
V/ith  the  utmoft  rage  to  root  out  the  Chriftian  church  from  the 
earth,  that  there  fhouldnot  be  fomuch  as  the  name  of  Chriftian 
left  in  the  world.  And  thoufands  and  millions  were  put  to 
cruel  deaths  in  thefe  perfecutions  ;  for  they  fpared  neither  fex 
nor  age,  but  killed  them  as  faft  as  they  could. 

Under  the  fecond  general  perfecution,  that  which  was  next 
after  the  deftruftion  of  Jerufalem,  the  Apoftle  John  was  ban- 
iftied  to  the  ifle  of  Patmos,  where  he  had  thofe  vifions  of  which 
he  has  given  an  account  in  the  Revelation.    Under   that  perfe- 

cutioq 


246  A    HISTORY     OK  iHii         Period  111. 

cutlon  it  was  reckoned,  that  about  40,000  fuffered  martyrdom  j 
which  yet  was  nothing  to  what  were  put  to  death  under  fome 
fucceeding  perfecutions.  Ten  thoufand  fuffered  that  one  kind 
of  cruel  dcafh,  crucifixion,  in  the  third  perfecution  under  the 
Emperour  Adrian,  Under  the  fourth  perfecution,  which  be- 
gan about  the  year  of  Chrift  162,  many  fuffered  martyrdom  in 
England,  the  land  of  our  forefathers,  where  Chriftianity  had 
been  planted  v^ery  early,  and,  as  is  fuppofed,  in  the  days  of  the 
apoRles.  And  in  the  later  perfecutions,  the  Roman  emperours 
being  vexed  at  the  fruftration  of  their  predecelTors,  who  were 
not  able  to  extirpate  Chriitianity  or  hinder  its  progrefs,  were 
enraged  to  be  the  more  violent  in  their  attempts. 

Thus  a  great  part  of  the  firll  300  years  after  Chrift  was  fpent 
in  violent  and  cruel  perfecutions  of  the  church  by  the  Roman 
pov/ers,  Satan  was  very  unwilling  to  let  go  his  hold  of  fo  great 
a  part  of  the  world,  and  every  way  the  chief  part  of  it,  as  the 
countries  contained  in  the  Pvoman  empire  were,  of  which  he 
had  had  the  quiet  ppffefTion  for  fo  many  ages  :  And  therefore, 
when  he  faw  it  going  fo  fait  out  of  his  hands,  he  beftirred  him- 
felf  to  his  utmofl  ;  All  hell  was,  as  it  were,  raifcd  againfl  it  to 
oppofe  it  with  its  utmoft  power. 

Satan  thus  exerting  himfelf  by  the  power  of  the  heathen  Ro- 
man empire,  is  called  the  great  red  dragon  in  fcripture,  having 
feven  heads  and  ten  horns,  fighting  againfl  the  woman  clothed 
^th  the  fun,  as  in  the  12th  of  Revelation.  And  the  terrible 
confli6l  there  was  between  the  church  of  Chriil:,  and  the  pow- 
ers of  the  heathen  empire  before  Conllantine's  time,  is  there,  in 
verf.  7,  reprefented  by  the  war  between  Michael  and  his  an- 
gels, and  the  dragon  and  his  angels  :  "  And  there  was  war  in 
heaven  ;  Michael  and  his  angels  fought,  and  the  dragon  fought 
and  his  angels." 

2.  I  would  take  notice  what  fuccefs  the  gofpel  had  in  the 
%voild  before  the  time  of  Conflantine,  notwithftanding  all  this 
oppolition.-—— Though  the  learning  and  power  of  the  Roman 
empire  were  fo  great,  and  both  were  employed  to  the  utmoil 
againfl  Chriftianity  to  put  a  flop  to  it,  and  to  root  it  out  for  fo 
long  a  time,  and  in  fo  many  repeated  attempts  ;  yet  all  was  in 
vain  ;  they  could  neither  root  it  out,  nor  put  a  flop  to  it.  But 
Hill,  in  fpite  of  all  that  they  could  do,  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl 
wonderfully  prevailed,  and  Satan's  heathen  kingdom  mouldered 
and  confumcd  away  before  it,  agreeable  to  the  words  of  the 

text, 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        247 

text,  «'  The  moth  fhall  eat   them  up   like  a  garment,   and  the 
worm   (hall  eat  them  like  wool."     And  it  was  very  obfervable, 
that  for  the  moft  part  the  more  they  perfecuted  the  church,  the 
more  it  increafed  ;  infomuch   that  it  became  a  common   faying, 
The  blood  of  the  martyrs   is  the  feed  of  the  church.     Herein 
the  church  of  Chrift   proved   to  be  like  a  palm  tree  ;  of  which 
tree  it   is  remarked,  that  the  greater  vveight  is  laid  upon  it,  or 
hung  to   its  branches,    the   more    it  grows  and   flouriihes  ;  on 
\vhich  account  probably  the  church  is  compared  to  a  palm,  tree 
in  Cant.  vii.  7.  "  This  thy  ilature  is  like  to  a  palm  tree.'*     Juf- 
tin  Martyr,    an  eminent  father  in   the  Chriftian   church,    who 
lived  in  the  age  next  after  the  apoftles,  in  fome  writings  of  his, 
which  are  yet  extant,  fays,  that  in  his  days  there  was  no  part  of 
marUcind,  whether  Greeks  or  barbarians,  or  by  what  name  fo- 
ever  they  were  called,   even  the  moft  rude  and  unpolifhed  na- 
tions, where  prayers  and   thankfgivings  were  tiot   made  to   the 
great  Creator  of  the  world,  through  the  name  of  the   crucified 
Jefus.      Tertullian,   another  eminent   father   in  the    Chriftian 
church,  who  lived  in  the  beginning  of  the  following  age,   in 
fome  of  his  writings  which  are  yet  extant,  fets   forth  how  that 
in  his  day  the  Chriftian  religion  had  extended  itfelf  to  the  ut- 
moft  bounds  of  the  then  known  world,   in  which   he  reckons 
Britain,    the   country  of  our  forefathers  ;  and  thence  demon- 
ftrates,  that  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  was  then  more  extenftve  than 
any  of  the  four  great  monarchies  ;  and   moreover  fays,    that 
though  the  Chriftians  v/ere  as   ftrangers  of  no   long  ftanding, 
yet  they  had  filled  all  places  of  the  Roman  dominions,    their 
cities,  iflands,  caftles,  corporations,  councils,  armies,  tribes,   the 
palace,  fenate,  and  courts  of  judicature  ;  only  they  had  left  to 
the  heathen  their  temples  ;  and  that  if  they  fhould  all  agree  tq 
.v4  retire  out  of  the  Roman  empire,  the  world  would  be  amazed  at 
the   folitude  and  defolation  that   would  enfue  upon   it,  there 
would  be  fo  few  left  ;  and  that  the  Chriftians  were  enough  to 
be  able  eafily  to  defend  themfelves,  if  they  were  difpofed  to  rife 
up  in  arms  againft  the  heathen  magiftrates.     And  Pliny,   a  hea- 
then  who  lived  in  thofe  days,  fays,  multitudes  of  each  fex,  every 
age  and  quality,   were  become  Chriftians,     This    fuperftition, 
fays  he,   having  infe6led  and   overrun  not   the  city  only,    but 
towns  and  countries,  the  temples  and  facrifices  are  generally  def-^ 

date  and  forfaken. 

And 


248  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    THi  Period  in. 

And  it  v/as  remarked  by  both  heathen  and  Chriflian  writers 
in  thole  days,  that  the  famous  heathen  oracles  in  their  templeSj 
where  princes  and  others  for  many  paft  ages  had  been  wont  to 
inquire  and  receive  anfwers  with  an  audible  voice  from  their 
gods,  which  were  indeed  anfwers  from  the  devil  ;  I  fay,  thofc 
oracles  were  now  lilenced  and  ftruck  dumb,  and  gave  no  more 
anfwers  :  And  particularly  the  oracle  at  Delphos,  which  was 
the  moft  famous  heathen  oracle  in  the  whole  world,  which  both 
Greeks  and  Romans  ufed  to  confult,  began  to  ccafe  to  give  any 
anfwers,  even  from  the  birth  of  Chrifl  :  And  the  falfe  deity  who 
was  worlhipped,  and  ufed  to  give  anfwers  from  his  oracle  in  that 
temple,  being  once  inquired  of,  ^  Why  he  did  not  now  give  an- 
fwers as  he  was  wont  to  do  ?  made  this  reply,  as  feveral  hea- 
then hiftorians  who  lived  about  thofe  times  relate,  There  is  au 
Hebrew  boy,  fays  he,  who  is  king  of  the  gods,  who  has  com- 
manded me  to  leave  this  houfe,  and  be  gone  to  hell,  and  there- 
fore you  are  to  expeft  no  more  anfwers.  And  many  of  the 
heathen  writers  who  lived  about  that  time,  fpeak  much  of  the 
©racles  being  filenced,  as  a  thing  at  which  they  wondered,  not 
knovving  what  the  caufe  fhould  be.  Plutarch,  a  heathen  writer 
of  thofe  times,  wrote  a  particular  treatife  about  it,  which  is  ftill 
extant.  And  Porphyry,  one  of  the  heathen  writers  before  men- 
tioned, who  oppofed  the  Chriflian  religion,  in  his  writings  has 
thefe  words  :  ««  It  is  no  wonder  if  the  city  for  thefe  fo  many 
years  h-as  been  overrun  with  ficknefs  :  Efculapius,  and  the  reft. 
of  the  gods,  having  withdrawn  their  converfe  with  men  ;  For 
fmce  Jefus  began  to  be  worfhipped,  no  man  has  received  any 
publick  help  or  benefit  by  the  gods." 

Thus  did  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl  prevail  againfl  the  kingdom 
of  Satan, 

3.  I  now  proceed  to  take  notice  of  the  peculiar  circumflances 
of  tribulation  and  dillrefs  jufl  before  Conflantine  the  Great 
came  to  the  throne.  This  diflrefs  they  fufFered  under  the  tenth 
heathen  perfecution,  which,  as  it  was  the  lafl,  fo  it  was  by  far 
the  heavicll,  and  mofl  fevere.  The  church  before  this,  after 
the  ceafing  of  the  ninth  perfecution,  had  enjoyed  a  time  of  qui- 
€tDcfs  for  about  forty  years  together  ;  but,  abufmg  their  liberty, 
began  to  grow  cold  and  lifelefs  in  religion,  and  carnal,  and  con- 
tentions prevailed  among  them  ;  by  which  they  offended  God 
to  fufter  tliis  dreadful  trial  to  come  upon  them.  And  Satan 
having  left  ground  fo  much,  notwithflanding   all  his  attemptSj 

now 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    o*    kEDEMPTION.        249 

now  feemed  to  beftir  himfelf  with  more  than  ordinary  ra?^^; 
Thofe  who  were  then  in  authority  fet  themfclves  with  the  ut^ 
mod  violence  to  root  out  Chriftlanity,  by  burning  all  Bibles, 
and  deflroying  all  Chrlftians  ;  and  therefore  they  did  not  ftand 
to  try  or  convift  them  in  a  formal  procefs,  but  fell  upon  them 
wherever  they  could  ;  fometimes  fetting  fire  to  houfes  where 
multitudes  of  them  were  affembled,  and  burning  them  all  to- 
gether ;  and  at  other  times  flaughterlng  multitudes  together  :  So 
that  ibmetimes  their  perfecutors  were  quite  fpent  with  the  la- 
bour-of  killing  and  tormenting  them;  and  in  fome  populou's 
places,  fo  many  were  flairi  together,  that  the  blood  ran  like  tor- 
rents. It  is  related,  that  feventeen  thoufand  martyrs  were  flaifi 
in  one  month's  time  ;  and  that  during  the  continuance  of  this 
perfecutlon,  in  the  province  of  Egypt  alone,  no  lefs  thail 
144,000  Chrlftians  died  by  the  violence  of  their  perfecutors, 
befides  700,000  that  died  through  the  fatigues  of  banifhment,  or 
the  publick  works  to  which  they  were  condemned. 

This  perfecutlon  lafled  for  ten  years  together  ;  and  as  it  ex* 
ceeded  all  foregoing  perfecutlons  in  the  number  of  martyrs,  fb 
it  exceeded  them  in  the  variety  and  multitude  of  inventions  of 
torture  and  cruelty.  Some  authors  who  lived  at  that  time,  fay, 
they  were  innumerable,   and  exceed  all  account  and  expreflion. 

This  perfecutlon  in  particular  was  very  fevere  in  England  ; 
and  this  is  that  perfecutlon  which  was  foretold  in  Rev.  vi.  9^ 
10,  **  And  wh&n  he  had  opened  the  fifth  feal,  I  faw  under  the 
altar  the  fouls  of  them  that  were  flain  for  the  word  of  God, 
and  for  the  teftimony  which  they  held.  And  they  cried  with 
a  loud  voice,  faying,  ^  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  doft 
thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  thej 
earth  ?" 

And  at  the  end  of  the  ten  years  during  which  this  perfefutiort 
continued,  the  heathen  perfecutors  thought  they  had  finifhccl 
their  work,  and  boafted  that  they  had  utterly  deftroyed  the  namd 
and  fuperftition  of  the  Chrlftians,  and  had  reftored  and  propa- 
gated the  worfhip  of  the  gods. 

Thus  it  was  the  darkeft  time  with  the  Chriftian  church  juft 
before  the  break  of  day.  They  were  brought  to  the  greateft  ex- 
tremity juft  before  God  appeared  for  their  glorious  deliverance, 
as  the  bondage  of  the  Ifraelites  in  Egypt  was  the  moft  fevere  and 
cruel,  juft  before  their  deliverance  by  the  hand  of  Mofes.  Their 
enemies  thought  they  had  fwallowed  them  up  juft  before  th-eir^ 
H  h  dellru&ian. 


tso  A    H  J  5  T  O  R  y    oy  tnz         Period  IH, 

deftruftion,  as  it  was  with  Pharaoh  and  his  hoft,  when  they  had 
hemmed  in  the  children  of  Ifrael  at  the  Red  Sea. 

4.  I  come  now,  in  the  fourth  place,  to  the  great  revolution  which 
was  in  the  world  ik  the  dayjJ  of  Conilantine,  which  was  in  many 
r«rpe6ls  like  Chrift's  appearing  in  the  clouds  of  heaven  to  favc 
his  people,  and  judge  the  world.     The  people  of  Rome  being 
weary  of  the  government  of  thofc  tyrants  to  whom  they   had 
lately  been   iubje6l,   fcnt  to  ConA;antine,  who  was   then  in  the 
city  of  York  in  England,  to  come  and  take  the  throne.     And  he 
being  encouraged,  as  isfaid,  by  a  vifio«  of  a  pillar  of  light  in  the 
heavens,  in  the  form  of  a  crofs,  in  the  fight  of  his  whole  army, 
with  this    infcription,  Tovit)  h*»,  in  this  overcome  j  and  the   night 
following,  by    Chrifl's   appearing  to  him   in  at  dream  with  the 
fame  crofs  in    his  hand,  who  dire^ed  him  to  make  a  crofs  like 
that  to  be  his  royal  ftandard,  that  his  army  might  fight  under  that 
banner^  and    affured    him  that   he  fhould  overcome.     Accor- 
dingly he  did,  and  overcame  his  enemies,  and  took  poffeflion  of 
the  Imperial  throne,   and  embraced  the  Chriftian   religion,   and 
was  the   firft  Chriftian  emperour  that  ever  reigned.     He  came 
to  the  throne   about  320  years  after  Chrift.     There  are  feverai 
things  which  1  would  take  notice  of  which  attended  pr   imme- 
diately followed  Conflantine's  coming  to  the  throne. » 

(1.)  The  Chriftian  church  was  thereby  wholly  delivered  from 
perfecution.  Now  the  day  of  her  deliverance  came  after  fuch 
st^  dark  night  of  aljli^^ion  :  Weeping  had  continued  for  a  night, 
but  now  deliverance  and  joy  came  in  the  linorning.  Now  God 
appeared  to  judge  his  people,  and  repented  himfelf  for  his  fcr* 
vants,  when  he  faw  their  power  was  gone,  and  that  there  was 
none  fhut  up  or  left.  Chriftians  had  no  perfecutions  now  to 
fear.  Their  perfecutors  now  were  all  put  down,  and  their  rulers 
were  fome  of  them  Chriftians  like  themfelves. 

(2.)  God  now  appeared  to  execute  terrible  judgments  on  their 
enemies.  Remarkable  are  the  accounts  which  hiftory  gives  us 
of  the  fearful  ends  to  which  the  heathen  eniperours,  and  princes, 
and  generals,  and  captains,  and  other  great  men  came,  who  had 
exerted  themfelves  in  perfecuting  the  Chriftians  ;  dying  mifer- 
ably,  one  and  another,  under  exquifite  torments  of  body,  and 
horrors  of  confcience,  with  a  moft  vifible  hand  of  God  upon 
them.  So  that  what  now  came  to  pafs  might  very  fitly  be  com- 
pared to  their  hiding  thera-felves  in  the  dens  and  rocks  of 
l^ountains* 

(3.)  Heathcnifm 


Part  II.  1.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        251 

(3.)  Heathenifm  now  was  in  a  great  meafure  abolifhed 
throughout  the  Romah  empire.  -Images  were  now  deftroyed, 
and  heathen  temples  pulled  down.  Images  of  gold  and  filvcr 
were  melted  down,  and  coined  into  money.  Some  of  the  chief  of 
their  idols,  which  werecurioufly  wrought,  were  brought  to  Con- 
flantinoplc,  and  there  drawn  with  ropes  up  and  down  the  flreets 
for  the  people  to  behold  and  laugh  at.  The  heathen  priefts 
were  difperfed  and  banifhed. 

(4.)  The  Chriftian  church  was  brought  into  a  ftate  of  great 
peace  and  profperity.  Now  all  heathen  magiflrates  were  put 
down,  and  only  Chriflians  were  advanced  to  places  of  authority 
all  over  the  empire.  They  had  now  Chriftian  pvcfidents,  Chrif- 
tian governours,  Chriftian  judges  and  ofiicers,  inftead  of  their 
old  heathenifh  ones.  Conftantine  fet  himfelf  to  put  honour 
upon  Chriftian  bifhops  or  minifters,  and  to  build  and  adorn 
churches  ;  and  now  large  and  beautiful  Chriftian  churches 
were  erefted  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  inftead  of  the  old  heathen 
temples. 

This  revolution  was  the  greateft  revolution  and  change  in  the 
face  of  things  that  ever  came  to  pafs  in  the  world  lince  the  flood, 
Satan,  the  prince  of  darknefs,  that  king  and  god  of  the  heathen 
world,  was  caft  out.  The  roaring  lion  was  conquered  by  the 
Lamb  of  God,  in  the  ftrongeft  dominion  that  ever  he  had,  even 
the  Roman  empire.  This  was  a  remarkable  accomplifhment  of, 
Jer,  X.  n.  **  The  gods  that  have  not  made  the  heavens  and  the 
earth,  even  they  fhall  perifh  from  the  earth,  and  from  under 
thefe  heavens."  The  chief  part  of  the  world  was  now  brought 
utterly  to  caft  off  their  old  gods  and  their  old  religion,  to  which 
they  had  been  accuftomed  much  longer  than  any  of  their  hif- 
tories  give  an  account  of.  They  had  been  accuftomed  to  wor- 
fhip  the  gods  fo  long,  that  they  knew  not  any  beginning  of  it. 
It  was  formerly  fpoken  of  as  a  thing  unknown  for  a  nation  to 
change  their  gods,  Jer.  ii.  10,  11.  but  now  the  greater  part  of 
the  nations  of  the  k-nown  world  were  brought  to  caft  off  all 
their  former  gods.  That  multitude  of  gods  that  they  worfhip- 
pcd  were  all  forfaken,  Thoufands  of  them  were  caft  away  for 
the  worftiip  of  the  true  God,  and  Chrift  the  only  Saviour  ;  And 
there  was  a  moft  remarkable  fulfilment  of  that  in  If.  ii.  17,  18. 
"  And  the  loftinefs  of  man  ftiall  be  bowed  down,  and  the  haugh- 
tlnefs  of  men  ftiall  be  made  low  :  And  the  Lord  alone  (hall  be 
exalted  in  that  day.     And  the  idols  he  fhall  utterly  abolifh.** 

And 


a|2  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  III. 

And  fince  that,  it  has  come  to  pafs,  that  thofe  gods  that  were 
once  fo  famous  in  the  worl(f,  as  Jupiter,  and  Saturn,  and  Mi- 
nerva, and  Juno,  &c.  are  only  heard  of  as  things  which  were  of 
old.  They  have  no  temples,  no  altars,  no  worfhippers,  and 
have  not  had  for  many  hundred  years. 

Novv  is  come  the  end  of  the  old  heathen  world  in  the  princi- 
pal part  of  it,  the  Roman  empire.  And  this  great  revolution 
and  change  of  the  ftate  of  the  world,  with  that  terrible  deftruc- 
l^on  of  the  great  men  who  had  been  perfecutors,  is  compared, 
in  Rev.  vi.  to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  Chrifl's  coming  to 
judgment  ;  and  is  what  is  moft  immediately  fignified  under  the 
fixth  feal,  which  followed  upon  the  fouls  under  the  altar,  cry- 
ing, "  J  How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  doft  thou  not  avenge 
our  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?"  This  vifion  of  the 
fixth  feal,  by  the  general  conferit  of  divines  and  expofitors,  has 
refpeft  to  this  downfall  of  the  heathen  Roman  empire  ;  though 
it  has  a  more  remote  refpeft  to  the  day  of  judgment,  or  this  was 
a  type  of  it.  The  day  of  judgment  cannot  be  what  is  immedi- 
ately intended  j  becaufe  we  have  an  account  of  many  events 
which  were  to  come  to  pafs  under  the  feventh  fcal,  and  fo  were 
to  follow  after  thofe  of  the  fixth  feal. 

What   came  to  pafs  now   is  alfo  reprefented  by  the  devil's 
being  caft  out  of  heaven  to  the  earth.     In  his  great  llrength 
and  glory,  in  that  mighty  Roman  empire,  he  had  as  it  were  eJc-r 
alted  his  throne  up  to  heaven.     But  now  he  fell  like  lightning 
from  heaven,  and  was  confined  to  the  earth.     His  kingdom  was 
confined  to  the  meaner  and   more  barbarous  nations,  or  to  the 
lower  parts  of  the  world  of  mankind.     This  is   the  event  fore- 
told. Rev.  xii.  9.  &c.   "  And  the  great  dragon  was  caft  out, 
that  o}d  ierpent,  called  the   devil  and  Satan,  which  deceiveth 
the  whole  world  :  He  was  caft  out  into  the  earth,  and  his  an- 
gels were  caft  out  \yith  him,'*  &c.     Satan  tempted  Chrift,  and 
promifed  to  give  him  the  glory  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  world ; 
but  now   he  is  obliged  to  give  it  to  him  even  againft  his  will. 
This  was  a  glorious  fulfilment  of  that  promife  which  God  made 
to  his  Son,  that  we  have  an  account  of  in  If.  liii.  12.  *'  There- 
fore will  I   divide  him  a  portion  with  the   great,  and  he  fhall 
divide  the   fpoil   with   the  ftrong  ;  becaufe  he  hath  poured  out 
his  foul  unto  death :  And  he  was  numbered  with  the  tranfgref- 
fors,  and  he  bare  the  fin  of  many,  and  made  interceilion  for  the 
tranfgrefTors."     This  was  a  great  fuliilment  of  the  prophecies 

of 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        253 

of  the  Old  Teflament  co.ncerning  the  glorious  time  of  the  gof- 
pel,  and  particularly  of  the  prophecies  of  Daniel.  Now  the- 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  come  in  a  glorious  degree.  It  pleafed 
the  Lord  God  of  heaven  to  fet  up  a  kingdom  on  the  ruins  of 
Satan's  kingdom.  And  fuch  fuccefs  is  there  of  the  purchafe  of 
Chrifl's  redemption,  and  fuch  honour  does  the  Father  put  upon 
Chrift"  for  the  difgrace  he  fufl'ered  when  on  earth.  And  now 
fee  to  what  a  height  that  glorious  building  is  ereded,  which  had 
been  building  ever  fince  the  fail. 

Inference.  From  what  has  been  faid  pf  the  fuccefs  of  the 
gofpel  from  Chrill's  afcenlion  to  the  time  of  Conftantino,  wo 
may  deduce  a  ftrong  argument  of  the  truth  of  the  Chriflian  re- 
ligion, and  that  the  golpel  of  Jefus  Chrifh  is  really  from  God. 
This  wonderful  fuccefs  of  it  which  has  been  fpoken  of,  and 
the  circumftances  of  it  which  have  been  mentioned,  are  a 
ftrong  argument  of  it  feveral  ways. 

1.  We  may  gather  from  what  has  been  faid,  that  it  is  the 
gofpel,  and  that  only,  which  has  adually  been  the  means  of 
bringing  the  world  to  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God.  That 
thofe  are  no  gods  whom  the  heathen  worfhipped,  and  that  there 
is  but  one  only  God,  is  what,  now  lince  the  gofpel  has  fo  taught 
us,  we  can  fee  to  be  truth  by  our  own  reafon :  It  is  plainly- 
agreeable  to  the  light  of  nature  :  It  can  be  eafily  fhown  by  rea- 
fon to  be  demon ftrably  true.  The  very  Deifts  themfelves  ac- 
knowledge, th|it  it  can  be  demonilrated,  that  there  is  one  God, 
and  but  one,  who  has  made  and  governs  the  world.  But  now 
it  is  evident  that  it  is  the  gofpel,  and  that  only,  which  has  ac- 
tually been  the  means  of  bringing  men  to  the  knowledge  of  this 
truth.  It  was  not  the  inflruftions  of  philofophers.  They  tried 
in  vain  :  "  The  world  by  wifdom  knew  not  God."  Until  the 
gofpel  and  the  holy  fcriptures  came  abroad  in  the  world,  all  the 
world  lay  in  ignorance  of  the  true  God,  and  in  the  greateftdark- 
nefs  with  refpeft  to  the  things  of  religion,  embracing  the  abfurd- 
eft  opinions  and  praftices,  which  all  civilized  nations  now  ac- 
knowledge to  be  childifh  fooleries.  And  fo  they  lay  one  age 
after  another,  and  nothing  proved  efFe61:ual  to  enlighten  them. 
The  light  of  nature,  and  their  own  reafon,  and  all  the  wifdom 
of  learned  men,  fignified  nothing  until  the  fcriptures  came. 
But  when  thefe  came  abroad,  they  were  fuccefsful  to  bring  the 
world  to  an  acknowledgment  of  the  one  only  true  God,  and  to 
worfhip  and  ferv?'.  him» 

And 


254  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y   OF    iphb  Period  III. 

And  hence  it  is  that  all  that  part  of  the  world  which  now 
does  own  one  only  true  God,  Chriflians,  Jews,  Mahometans, 
and  even  Deifts  too,  originally  came  by  the  knowledge  of  him* 
It  is  owing  to  this  that  they  are  not  in  general  at  this  day  left 
in  heathenilh  darknefs.  They  hav'c  it  all,  firft  of  all,  either 
immediately  from  the  fcriptures,  or  by  tradition  from  their  fa- 
thers, who  had  it  firft  from  the  fcriptures.  And  doubtlefs  thofe 
who  now  defpife  the  fcriptures,  and  boaft  of  the  ftrength  of 
their  own  rcafon,  as  being  fufficient  to  lead  into  the  knowledge 
of  the  one  true  God,  if  the  gofpel  had  never  come  abroad  in  the 
world  to  enlighten  their  forefathers,  would  have  been  as  fot- 
tifh  and  brutifh  idolaters  as  the  world  in  general  was  before  the 
gofpel  came  abroad.  The  Mahometans,  who  own  but  one  true 
God,  at  firft  borrowed  the  notion  from  the  fcriptures :  For  the 
firft  Mahometans  had  been  educated  in  the  Chriftian  religion, 
and  apoftatized  from  it.  And  this  is  evidential,  that  the  fcrip- 
tures were  defigned  of  God  to  be  the  proper  means  to  bring  the 
world  to  the  knowledge  of  himfelf,  rather  than  human  reafon, 
or  any  thing  elfe.  For  it  is  unreafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  the 
gofpel,  and  that  only,  which  God  never  defigned  as  the  proper 
mean  for  obtaining  this  effeft,  fhould  aftually  obtain  it,  and 
that  after  human  reafon,  which  he  defigned  as  the  proper  mean, 
had  been  tried  for  a  great  many  ages  without  any  effed.  If 
the  fcriptures  be  not  the  word  of  God,  then  they  are  nothing 
but  darknefs  and  delufion,  yea,  the  greateil  dej^fion  that  ever 
was.  Novr,  ^  Is  it  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  God  in  his  provi- 
dence would  make  ufe  of  falfehood  and  delufion,  and  that  only, 
to  bring  the  world  to  the  knowledge  of  himfelf,  and  that  no 
part  of  it  Ihould  be  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  him  any  other 
way  ?  * 

2.  The  gofpePs  prevailing  as  it  did  againft  fuch  powerful  op- 
pofjtion,  plainly  fhows  the  hand  of  God.  The  Roman  govern- 
ment, that  did  fo  violently  fet  itfelf  to  hinder  the  fuccefs  of  the 
gofpel,  and  to  fubdue  the  church  of  Chrift,  was  the  moft  pow- 
erful human  government  that  ever  was  in  the  world ;  and  not 
only  fo,  but  they  feemed  as  it  were  to  have  the  church  in  their 
hands.  The  Chriftians  were  moftly  their  fubje6ls,  under  their 
command,  and  never  took  up  arms  to  defend  themfelves  :  They 
did  not  gather  together,  and  ftand  in  their  own  defence  ;  they 
armed  themfelves  with  nothing  but  patience,  and  fuch  like 
fpiritual  weapons ;  And  yet  this  mighty  power  could  not  con- 
quer 


Partir.i.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        255 

qucrthem;  but,  on  the  contrary,  Chriftianity  conquered  them. 
The  Roman  empire  had  fubdued  the  world  ;  they  had  fubdaed 
many  mighty  and  potent  kingdoms ;  they  fubdued  the  Grecian 
monarchy,  when  they  were  not  their  fubje6ls,  and  made  the 
utmofl  refiflance:  And  yet  they  could  not  conquer  the  church 
which  was  in  their  hands  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  were  fubdued, 
and  finally  triumphed  over  by  the  church, 

3.  No  other  fufficient   caufe  can  polTibly  be  affigned  of  this 
propagation  of  the  gofpel,  but  only  God's  own  power.     Noth- 
ing elfe  can  be  devifed  as  the  reafon  of  it  but  this.     There  wai 
certainly  fome  reafon.     Here  was  a  great  and  wonderful  efFeft, 
the  mod  remarkable  change  that   ever  was  in   the  face  of  the 
world  of  mankind  fince  the  flood  ;  and  this  effe6l  was  not  with- 
out fome  caufe.     Now,  ^  What  other  caufe  can  be  devifed  but 
only  the  divine   power  ?  It  was  not  the   outward   flrength   of 
the   inftruments  which  were  employed  in  it.     At  firfl,  the  gof- 
pel  was  prea,ched  only  by  a  few  fifhermen,  who   were  without 
power  and  wordly  intereft  to  fupport  them*     It  was  not   their 
craft   and  policy  that  produced  this  wonderful  efFeft ;  for  they 
were  poor   illiterate   men.     It  was  not  the  agreeablenefs  of  the 
flory  they  had  to  tell  to  the  notions  and  principles  of  mankind. 
This  was  no  pleafant  fable  :  A  crucified  God  and  Saviour  was 
to  the  Jews  a  (tumbling  block,    and  to  the  Greeks  foolifhnefs. 
It  was  not  the  agreeablenefs  of  their  doctrines  to  the  difpofitions 
of  men :  For   nothing  is  more  contrary  to  the   corruptions  of 
men  than  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  gofpcl.     This  effeft  there- 
fore can    have  proceeded  from  no  other  caufe  than  the  power 
and  agency  of  God  :  And  if  the  power  of  God  was  what  was 
exercifed  to   caufe  the  gofpel  to  prevail,  then  the  gofpcl  is  his 
word ;  for  furely  God  does   not  ufe  his  almighty  power  to  pro- 
mote a  mere  impofture  and  delufion. 

4.  This  fuccefs  is  agreeable  to  what  Cbrift  and  his  apoflles 
foretold.-^Matth.  xvi.  18.  »' Upon  this  rock  will  1  build  my 
church;  And  the  gates  of  hell  Ihall  not  prevail  againft  it." 
John  xii.  24.  "  Verily  verily  I  fay  unto  you,  Except  a  corn  of 
wheat  fall  into  the  ground,  and  die,  it  abidelh  alone  :  But  if 
it  die,  it  bringeth  forth  much  fruit.'*  And  verf.  31,  3a.  "  Now 
is  the  judgment  of  this  world :  Now  fliall  the  prince  of  this 
world  be  caft  out.  And  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
will  draw  all  men  unto  me."  John  xvi.  8.  "  When  he  (the 
comforter)  is  come,  he  will  reprove  lihc  iflrorld  of  fin,  of  rightc- 

oufnefs. 


^256  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     or    the  Period  III. 

oaCners,  and  of  judgment — ^becaufe  the  prince  of  this  world  is 
.judged.'* 
.  So  the  Apoflle  Paul,  in  t  Cor,  chap.  i.  21. — 28.  declares, 
how  that  after  the  world  by  wifdom  knew  not  God,  it  pleafed 
God,  by  the  fooliflineTs  of  preaching,  to  fave  them  that  believe  ; 
and  that  God  chofe  the  foolifh  things  of  the  world,  to  confound 
the  wife ;  and  weak  things  of  the  world,  to  confound  the 
things  which  are  mighty  ;  and  bafe  things  of  the  world,  and 
things  which  are  defpifed,  yea  and  things  which  are  not,  to 
bring  to  nought  things  that  are. — If  any  man  foretells  a  thing, 
very  likely  in  itfelf  to  come  to  pafs,  from  caufes  which  can  be 
forefcen,  it  is  no  great  argument  of  a  revelation  from  God  :  But 
when  a  thing  is  foretold  which  is  very  unlikely  ever  to  come 
to  pafs,  is  entirely  contrary  to  the  common  courfe  of  things, 
and  yet  it  does  come  to  pafs  juft  agreeable  to  the  prediction, 
this  is  a  ftrong  argument  that  the  prediftion  was  from  God, 

Thus  the  confideration  of  the  manner  of  the  propagation  and 
fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  during  the  time  which  has  been  fpoken  of, 
affords  great  evidence  that  the  fcriptures  are  the  word  of  God, 

III.  I  am  now  to  fhow  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chnfl's  redemp* 
tron  is  carried  on  from  the  time  of  the  overthrow  of  the  heathen 
Roman  empire  in  the  time  of  Conflantin^e  the  Great,  until  the 
fall  of  Antichrifl,  and  the  deftrudion  of  Satan's  vifible  king- 
dom on  earth,  which  is  the  third  great  difpenfation  which  is  in 
fcripture  Compared  to  Chrifl's  coming  to  judgment.  This  is  a 
period  wherein  many  great  and  wonderful  things  are  brought 
to  pafs.  Herein  is  contained  a  long  feries  of  wonders  of  divine 
providence  towards  the  Chriflian  church.  The  greater  part 
of  the  book  of  Revelation  is  taken  up  in  foretelling  the  events 
of  this  period. 

The  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  purchafe  of  redemption  in  this  period, 
appears  mainly  at  the  clofe  of  it,  when  Antichrifl  comes  to 
fall,  when  there  will  be  a  far  more  glorious  fuccefs  of  the  gof- 
pel than  ever  was  before  ;  and  that  long  feries  of  events  which 
are  before,  feem  to  be  only  to  prepare  the  way  for  it.  And  in 
order  to  a  more  clear  view  of  the  great  works  of  God  in  ac» 
complifliing  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  redemption,  and  our  feeing 
the  glory  of  them,  it  will  be  neceffary,  as  we  have  done  in  the 
foregoing  periods,  to  confider  not  only  the  fuccefs  itfelf,  but 
the  oppoiition  rtiade  to  it,  and  the  great  works  of*  Satan  in  this 
period  againfl  the  church  and  kingdom  of  Chrifl ;  And  there^ 
.'  fore, 


PartlLi.    WORK    op    REDEMPTION.        257 

fore,  in  taking  a  view  of  this  period,  I  would  take  notice  of 
events  which  may  be  referred  to  either  of  thefe  heads,  viz.  ci- 
ther to  the  head  of  Satan's  oppofition  to  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's 
redemption,  or  to  the  head  of  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  redemp- 
tion ;  And  for  the  more  orderly  confideration  of  the  events  of 
this  period,  I  would  divide  it  into  thefc  four  parts  ;  The  firfl 
reaching  from  the  deftruftion  of  the  heathen  empire  to  the  rife 
of  Antichrifl ;  the  fecond,  from  the  rife  of  Antlchrifl  to  the 
reformation  in  Luther's  time  ;  the  third,  from  thence  to  the 
prefent  time;  the  fourth,  from  the  prefent  time,  until  Antichrift 
is  fallen,  and  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth  is  deftroyed. 

\Ji<^  I  would  confider  the  events  of  the  £rft  part  of  this  peri- 
od, reaching  from  the  deflruftion  of  the  heathen  empire  to  the 
rife  of  Antichrift.  And  hcre,/r/?,  I  would  take  notice  of  the 
oppofition  Satan  made  in  this  fpace  of  time  to  the  church  :  And, 
ftcondly^  the  fuccefs  that  the  gofpel  had  in  it. 

I.  The  oppofition,  Satan  being  caft  out  of  his  old  heathen 
empire,  the  great  red  dragon,  after  fo  fore  a  confli6l  with  Mi- 
chael and  his  angels  for  the  greater  part  of  three  hundred  years, 
being  at  laft  entirely  routed  and  vanquifhed,  fo  that  no  place 
was  found  any  more  in  heaven  for  him,  but  he  was  cad  down, 
as  it  were,  from  heaven  to  the  earth  ;  yet  does  not  give  over 
his  oppofition  to  the  woman,  the  church  of  Chrift,  concerning 
which  all  this  conlllft  had  been.  But  he  is  dill  in  a  rage,  and. 
renews  his  attempts,  and  has  recourfe  to  new  devices  againft  the 
church.  The  ferpent,  after  he  is  caft  out  of  heaven  to  the 
earth,  cafls  out  of  his  mouth  water  as  a  flood,  to  caufe  the  wom- 
an to  be  carried  away  of  the  flood.  The  oppofition  that  he 
made  to  the  church  of  Chrift  before  the  rife  of  Antichrift,  was 
principally  of  two  forts.  It  was  either  by  corrupting  the  church 
of  Chrift  with  herefies,  or  by  new  endeavours  to  reftore  Pa- 
ganifm. 

(1.)  I  would  obferve,  that  after  the  deftruQion  of  the  heathen 
Roman  empire,  Satan  infefted  the  church  with  herefies.  Though 
there  had  been  fo  glorious  a  work  of  God  in  delivering  the 
church  from  her  heathen  perfecutors,  and  overthrowing  the 
heathen  empire  ;  yet  the  days  of  the  church's  travail  not  being 
ended,  and  the  fet  time  of  her  profperity  not  being  yet  come,  as 
being  what  was  to  fucceed  the  fall  of  Antichrift,  therefore  the 
peace  and  profperity  which  the  church  enjoyed  in  Conftantine's 
time,  was  but  very  fhort  :  It  was  a  refpite,  which  gave  the 
I  i  church 


2^8  A    H  1  S  T  O  R  Y    or  the  Period  III. 

church  a  time  of  peace  and  filence,  as  it  were,  for  half  an  hour, 
wherein  the  four  angels  held  the  four  winds  from  blowing,  un- 
til the  fervants  of  God  fliould  be  fealed  in  their  foreheads. 
But  the  church  foon  began  to  be  greatly  infefled  with  herefies  ; 
the  two  principal,  and  thofe  which  did  mofl  infefl  the  church, 
were  the  Arian  and  Pelagian  herefies. 

The  Arians  besan  foon  after  Conftantine  came  to  the  throne. 
They  denied  the  doftrine  of  the  Trinity,  and  the  divinity  of 
Chrift  and  the  Holy  Ghoft,  and  maintained,  that  they  were  but 
mere  creatures.  This  herefy  increafed  more  and  more  in  the 
church,  and  prevailed  like  a  flood,  which  threatened  to  over- 
Eow  all,  and  entirely  to  carry  away  the  church,  infomuch  that 
before  that  age  was  out,  that  is,  before  the  fourth  century  after 
Chrift  was  finifhed,  the  greater  part  of  the  Chriflian  church 
were  become  Arians,  There  were  fome  emperours,  the  fuccef- 
Ibrs  of  Conftantine,  who  were  Arians  ;  fo  that  the  Arians  be- 
ing the  prevailing  party,  and  having  the  civil  authority  on  their 
iide,  did  raife  a  great  perfecution  againft  the  true  church  of 
Chrift  ;  fo  that  this  herefy  might  well  be  compared  to  a  flood 
out  of  the  mouth  of  the  ferpent,  which  threatened  to  overthrow 
all,  and  quite  carry  away  the  woman. 

The  Pelagian  herefy  arofe  in  the  beginning  of  the  next  cen- 
tury. It  began  by  one  Pelagius,  who  was  born  in  Britain  :  Kis 
Britifli  name  was  Morgan,  He  denied  original  fin,  and  the  in- 
fluence of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  converfion,  and  held  the  powe? 
of  free  will,  and  many  other  things  of  like  tendency  ;  and  this 
herefy  did  for  a  while  greatly  infeft  the  church.  Pelagius*3 
principal  antagonift,  who  wrote  in  defence  of  the  orthodox 
faith,  was  St,  Auguftln. 

(2.)  The  other  kind  of  oppofition  which  Satan  made  againft 
the  church,  was  in  his  endeavours  to  reftore  Paganifm,  And 
his  firft  attempt  to  reftore  it  in  the  Roman  empire,  was  by  Ju- 
lian the  apoftate.  Julian  was  nephew  to  Conftantine  the  Great. 
When  Conftantine  died,  he  left  his  empire  to  his  three  fons  ; 
and  when  they  were  dead,  Julian  the  apoftate  reigned  in  their 
ftead.  He  had  been  a  profeffed  Chriftian  ;  but  he  fell  from 
Chriftianity,  and  turned  Pagan  ;  and  therefore  is  called  the 
apojiate.  When  he  came  to  the  throne,  he  ufed  his  utmoft  en- 
deavours to  overthrow  the  Chriftian  church,  and  fet  up  Pagan- 
ifm again  in  the  empire.  He  put  down  the  Chriftian  magif- 
tratesj  and  fet  up  heathens  in  their  room  ;  He  rebuilt  the  hea- 

then 


Part  II.  u      W  O  R  K    OF    RE  D  E  M  PTI  O  N.         259 

then  temples,  and  fet  up  the  heathen  worflilp  in  the  empire,  and 
became  a  moft  notorious  perfecutor  of  the  Chriflians,  and,  as  is  • 
thought,  againft  his  own  light  :  He  ufed  to  call  Chrift,  by  way 
of  reproach,  the  Galilean.  He  was  killed  with  a  lance  in  his 
wars  with  the  Perfians.  When  he  faw  that  he  was  mortally 
wounded,  he  took  a  handful  of  his  blood,  and  threw  it  up  to- 
wards heaven,  crying  out.  Thou  haft  overcome,  O  Galilean, 
And  he  is  commonly  thought  by  divines  to  have  committed  the 
unpardonable  fin. 

Another  way  that  Satan  attempted  to  reftore  Paganifm  in  the 
Roman  empire,  was  by  the  invafiom  and  conquejis  of  heathen  nations. 
For  in  this  fpace  of  time  that  we  are  upon,  the  Goths  and  Van- 
dals, and  other  heathen  barbarous  nations,  that  dwelt  in  the 
north  of  the  Roman  empire,  invaded  the  empire,  and  obtained 
great  conqucfts,  and  even  overran  the  empire^  and  in  the  fifth 
century  took  the  city  of  Rome,  and  finally  fubdued  and  con- 
quered, and  took  poffeffion  of  the  Weftern  empire,  as  it  was 
called,  or  the  weftern  half  of  the  empire,  and  divided  it  amongft 
them  ;  divided  it  into  ten  kingdoms,  with  which  began  the  ten 
horns  of  the  beaft  ;  for  we  are  told,  that  the  ten  horns  are  ten 
kings,  who  Ihould  rife  in  the  latter  part  of  the  Roman  empire  ; 
Thefe  are  alfo  reprefented  by  the  ten  toes  of  Nebuchadnezzar's 
image.  The  invafion  and  conquefts  of  thefe  heathen  nations 
arc  fuppofed  to  be  foretold  in  the  8th  chapter  of  Revelation,  in 
what  came  to  pafs  under  the  founding  of  the  four  firft  trumpets. 
Now  thefe  nations,  who  now  took  pofleffion  of  the  Weftern 
empire,  were  heathens  ;  fo  that  by  their  meajis  heathenifm  wan 
again  for  a  while  reftored  after  it  had  been  rooted  out. 

So  much  for  the  oppofition  of  Satan  againft  the  fuccefs  of 
the  gofpel  during  this  fpace  before  the  rife  of  Antichrift,  I 
proceed, 

2.  To  fhow  what  fuccefs  there  was  of  the  gofpel  in  this  fpace, 
notwithftanding.  this  oppofition, 

(1.)  I  would  obferve,  that  the  oppofition  of  Satan  in  thofe 
things  was  baffled.  Though  the  dragon  caft  out  of  his  mouth 
fuch  a  flood  after  the  woman  to  carry  her  away,  yet  he  could 
not  obtain  his  defign  ;  but  the  earth  helped  the  woman,  and 
opened  her  mouth,  and  fwallowed  up  the  flood  which  the  drag- 
on caft  out  of  his  mouth,  Thefe  herefies,  which  for  a  while  fo 
much  prevailed,  yet  after  a  while  dwindled  away,  and  ortho- 
doxy 


s6o  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    the  Pcnod  IU. 

doxy  was  again  reftored  ;  And  his  attempt  by  Julian  was  baf- 
fled at  his  death. 

(2.)  The  gofpel,  during  this  fpace  of  time,  was  further  prop- 
agated among  ft  many  barbarous  heathen  nations  in  the  confines 
of  the  Roman  empire.  In  the  time  of  Conftantine  there  was  a 
confidcrable  propagation  of  the  gofpel  in  the  Eaftindies,  chiefly 
by  the  miniflry  of  one  Frumentius.  Great  numbers  of  the  Ibe- 
rians, an  heathen  people,  wer^  converted  to  Chriftianity  by  a 
Chriftian  woman  of  eminent  piety,  whom  they  had  taken  cap* 
tive.  And  fome  account  is  given  of  feveral  other  barbarous  na- 
tiows  who  were  not  within  the  Roman  empire,  that  great  num- 
bers of  them  were  brought  to  receive  the  gofpel  by  the  teaching 
and  example  of  captives  whom  they  had  taken  in  war.  And 
after  this,  about  the  year  of  Chrift  372,  the  gofpel  was  propa- 
gated among  the  barbarous  people  that  dwelt  in  Arabia  ;  as  it 
was  alfo  among  fome  of  the  northern  nations  ;  particularly  a 
prince  of  the  country  of  the  Goths  about  this  time  became 
Chriftian,  and  a  great  number  of  his  people  with  him.  To- 
wards the  latter  end  of  this  century,  the  gofpel  was  alfo  further 
propagated  among  the  Periians,  and  alfo  the  Scythians,  a  barba- 
rous people,  that  the  apoftle  mentions  in  Col.  iii.  11.  *'  Barbae 
rian,  Scythian,  bond  nor  free," 

And  after  this,  about  the  year  430,  there  was  a  remarkable 
converfion  of  a  heathen  people,  called  the  Burgundians,  to  the 
Chriftian  faith.  About  the  fame  time,  in  this  age,  the  gofpel 
began  to  be  propagated  in  Ireland  ;  and  the  Irifh,  who  until 
now  had  been  heathen,  began  to  receive  the  Chriftian  faith. 
About  the  fame  time  it  was  further  propagated  among  fome  bar- 
barous people  in  Scotland,  and  alfo  in  fome  other  places.  In 
the  next  century  to  this,  one  Zathus,  a  heathen  king,  who  ruled 
over  a  people  called  the  Colchians,  was  brought  to  renounce  his 
heathenifm,  and  to  embrace  the  Chriftian  religion.  Several 
other  barbarpus  nations  are  recorded  to  have  renounced  heathen- 
ifm and  embraced  Chriftianity  about  this  time,  that  I  cannot 
fland  to  mention. 

Thus  I  have  briefly  confidered  the  principal  events  of  prov- 
idence which  concern  the  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  of  Chrift  from 
Conftantine  to  the  rife  of  Antichrift. 

^dly,  I  come  now  to  the  fecond  part  of  the  time  from  Con- 
ftantine to  the  deftruftion  of  Antichrift,  viz.  that  which  reaches 
ivom  the  rife  of  Antichrift  to  the  reformation  by  Luther  and 

others* 


Part  II.  i.    WORK    QF    REDEMPTION,        2bi 

others.  And  this  is  the  darkeft  and  nioft  difmal  day  that  ever 
the  Chriitian  church  faw,  and  probably  the  darkeft  that  ever  it 
will  iee.  The  time  qf  the  church's  aftli^ion  and  peifecution, 
as  was  obferved  before,  is  from  Chrift's  refurreftion  until  the 
deflruftion  of  Antichrift,  excepting  what  the  day  is,  as  it  were, 
fhortened  by  Ibmc  int^rmiflions  and  times  of  refpite,  which 
God  gives  for  the  eled's  fake.  But  this  time,  from  the  rife 
of  Antichrift  until  the  Reformation,  was  a  fpace  wherein  the 
Chriftian  church  was  in  its  greateil  depth  of  deprefiion,  and  its 
darked  time  of  all.  The  true  church  in  this  fpace  was  for 
many  hundred  years  in  a  (late  of  great  obfcurity,  like  the  woman 
,in  the  wildernefs :  Indeed  fhe  was  almofl  hid  from  fight  and 
obfervation.  In  fpeaking  of  the  events  of  this  fpace  of  time,  X 
would,  1,  Take  notice  of  the  great  machinations  and  works  of 
the  devil  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  during  this  time;  ?. 
How  the  church  of  Chrift  was  upheld  during  this  time. 

1.  I  would  take  notice  of  the  great  works  of  the  devil  againfi 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift  during  this  time.  Satan  had  done  grc3t 
things  againft  the  Chrifti^^n  church  before,  but  had  been  bailicd 
once  and  again.  Michael  and  his  angels  had  obtained  a  glori- 
ous vI6lory.  How  terrible  was  his  oppofition  during  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  heathen  empire  ;  and  how  glorious  was  Chriil's 
viftory  and  triumph  over  him  in  the  time  of  Conflantine  !  It 
pleafed  God  now  to  prepare  the  way  for  a  yet  more  glorious 
viftory  over  him,  to  fufi'er  him  to  renew  his  (Irength,  and  to  do 
the  utmoft  that  his  power  and  fubtiity  can  help  him  to  ;  and 
therefore  he  fufFers  him  to  have  a  long  time  to  lay  his  fchemcs, 
and  to  eftablifli  his  intereft,  and  make  his  matters  flrong  ;  and 
fuffers  him  to  carry  his  defigns  a  great  length  indeed,  almoll  to 
the  fwallowing  up  of  his  church  ;  and  to  exercife  a  high,  and 
proud,  and  almofl  uncontrolled  dominion  in  the  world,  a  long 
time  before  Chrift  finally  conquers,  and  fubdues,  and  utterly 
ruins  his  vifible  kingdom  on  earth,  as  he  will  do  in  the  time  of 
the  dcftruftion  of  Antichrift  :  Thus  glorioufly  triumphing  over 
him  after  he  has  done  the  utmoft  that  his  power  and  fubtiity 
can  extend  to,  and  ihowing  that  he  is  above  him,  after  he  has 
dealt  moft  proudly,  and  lifted  himfelf  higheft  of  all. 

The  two  great  works  of  the  devil  which  he  in  this  fpace  of 
time  wrought  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  arc  his  creating 
his  Antichriftian  and  Mahometan  kingdoms,  which  have  been,' 
and  ftill  arc,  two  kingdoms,  of  great  extent  and  ftrength,  both 

together 


262  tA    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF   THE  Period  III, 

together  fwallowlng  up  the  ancient  Roman  empire  ;  the  king- 
dom of  Antichrift  fwallowing  up  the  Weftern  empire,  and  Sa- 
tan's Mahometan  kingdom  the  Eaftern  empire.  As  the  fcrip- 
tures  in  the  book  of  Revelation  reprefent  it,  it  is  in  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  thefe  that  the  glorious  viftory  of  Chrift,  at  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  glorious  times  of  the  church,  will  mainly  confift. 
And  here  let  us  briefly  obferve  how  Satan  erefts  and  maintains 
thefe  two  great  kingdoms  of  his  in  oppofition  to  the  kingdom 
of  Chrift, 

(i.)  With  refpecl;  to  the  kingdom  of  Antichrift.  This  feems 
to  be  the  mafter  piece  of  all  the  contrivances  of  the  devil  againft 
the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and  is  evidently  fo  fpoken  of  in  fcrip- 
ture,  and  therefore  Antichrift  is  the  man  of  fin,  or  that  man  of 
fm,  2  Thef.  ii.  3.  He  is  fo  called  emphatically,  as  though  he 
were  fo  eminently.  So  he  is  called  Antichriji,  which  fignifies 
the  opponent  or  adverfary  of  Chrift.  Not  that  he  is  the  only 
opponent  of  Chrift  ;  there  were  many  others  befides  him.  The 
Apoftle  John  obferves,  that  in  his  days  there  were  many  Anti- 
chrifts.  But  yet  this  is  called  the  Antichrifiy  as  though  there 
were  none  but  he,  becauie  he  was  fo  eminently,  and  above  all 
others.  So  this  contrivance  of  the  devil,  is  called  the  myjiery  of 
iniquity,  2  Theft,  ii.  7.  And  Vv^e  find  no  enemy  of  Chrift  one 
half  fo  much  fpoken  of  in  the  prophecies  of  Revelation  as  this  ; 
.  and  the  deftruftion  of  no  enemy  is  fpoken  of  as  fo  glorious  and 
happy  for  the  church.  The  craft  and  fubtilty  of  the  devil,  a- 
bove  all  appears  in  this  work  of  his  ;  as  might  be  fliown,  were 
it  not  that  it  would  confume  too  much  time. 

This  is  a  contrivance  of  the  devil  to  turn  the  miniftry 
of  the  Chriftian  church  into  a  miniftry  of  the  devil,  and  to 
turn  thefe  angels  of  the  churches  into  fallen  angels,  and  fo  into 
devils.  And  in  the  tyrariny,  and  fuperftition,  and  idolatry,  and 
perlccution,  which  he  fets  up,  he  contrives  to  make  an  image 
of  ancient  Paganifm,  and  more  than  to  reftore  what  was  loft  in 
the  empire  by  the  overthrow  of  Paganifm  in  the  time  of  Con- 
ftantine  :  So  that  by  thefe  means  the  head  of  the  beaft,  which 
was  wounded  unto  death  in  Conftantine,  has  his  deadly  wound 
healed  in  Antichrift,  Rev.  xiii.  3.  And  the  dragon,  that  form- 
erly reigned  ^  in  the  heathen  Roman  empire,  being  caft  out 
thence,  after  the  beaft  with  feven  heads  and  ten  horns  rifes  up 
out  of  the  fea,  gives  him  his  power,  and  feat,  and  great  author- 
ny  ;  and  all  the  world  wonders  after  the  beaft. 

I  am 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    or    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.        263 

I  am  far  from  pretending  to  determine    the  time  when   the 
reign  of  Antichrifl  began,  which  is  a   point  that  has  been  fo 
much  controverted  among  divines  and  expofitors.     It  is  certain 
that  the   1260  days,  or  years,  which  are   fo  often  in  fcripture 
mentioned  as  the  time  of  the  continuance  of  Antichrifl's  reign, 
did  not  commence  before  the  year  of  Chrift  479  ;  becaufe  if  they 
did,  they  would  have  ended,  and  Antichrift  would  have  fallen 
before  now.     But  I  {hall   not   pretend   to   determine  precifely 
how  long  it  was  after  this  that  that  period   began.     The  rife  of 
Antichrifl  was  gradual.     The  Chriftian  church  corrupted  itfelf 
in   many   things   prefently   after    Conftantine's    time,    growing 
more  and  more  fuperflitious  in  its  worfhip,  by  degrees  bringing 
in  many  ceremonies  into  the  worfhip  of  God,  until  at  length  they 
brought  in   the   worfhip  of  faints,  and  fet  up   images  in  their 
churches,  and   the   clergy  in  general,   and  efpecially  the  bifhop 
of  Rome,  afifumed  more  and  more  authority  to  himfelf.     In  the 
primitive  times  he  was  only  a  minifter  of  a  congregation  ;  then 
a  ftanding  moderator  of  a  preftytery ;  then  a  diocefan  bifhop; 
then  a  metropolitan,  which  is  equivalent   to    an    archbifhop ; 
then  he  was  a  patriarch,  then  afterwards  he  claimed  the  power 
of  univerfal  biihop  over   the  whole  Chriftian  church  through 
the  world  ;  wherein  he  was  oppofed  for  a  while,  but  afterwards 
was  confirmed  in  it  by  the  civil  power  of  the  Emperour  in  the 
year  606.     After  that   he   claimed  the  power  of   a  temporal 
prince ;  and  fo  was  wont   to  carry  two   fwords,  to   fignify  that 
both  the  temporal  and   fpiritual  fword  was  his ;  and  claimed 
more  and  more  authority,  until  at  length  he,  as  Chrift's  vicege- 
rent on  earth,  claimed  the  very  fame  power  that  Chrifl  would 
have,  if  he  was  prefent  on  earth,  and  reigned  on  his   throne,  or 
the  fame  power  that  belongs   to  God,  and  ufed  to  be  called  God 
on  earth  ;  and  ufed  to  be  fubmitted  to  by  all  the  princes  of  Chrif- 
tendom.     He  claimed  power  to  crown  princes,  and  to  degrade 
them  at  his  pleafure  ;  and  this  power  was  owned  :  And  it  came 
to  that,   that   kings  and  emperours  ufed  to   kifs  his  feet.     The 
cmperours  were  wont  to  receive  their  crowns  at  his  hands,  and 
princes  were  wont  to  dread  the  difpleafure  of  the  Pope,  as  they 
would  dread  a  thunderbolt  from  heaven ;  for  if   the  Pope  was 
pleafed  to  excommunicate  a  prince,  all  his  fubjefts  were  at  once 
freed  from   their  allegiance  to  him ;  yea,  and   obliged  not  to 
own  him  any  more,  on  pain  of  excommunication ;  and  not  on- 
ly fojbut  any  man  might  kill  him  wherever  he  found  him.   And 

further- 


i?b4  A    HISTORY     or   tuh  Period  IIL 

further^  the  Fope  was  believed  to  hd.ve  power  to  damn  men  at 
pleafure  ;  for  whoever  died  under  his  excommunication,  was 
looked  upon  as  certainly  damned.  And  feveral  emperours  were 
a£luaUy  depofed,  and  ejefted,  and  died  miferably  by  his  means  ; 
and  if  the  people  of  any  ftate  or  kingdom  did  not  pleafe  him, 
he  had  power  to  lay  that  flate  or  kingdom  under  an  interdift, 
which  was  a  fentence  pronounced  by  the  Pope  againft  that  ftatc 
or  kingdom,  whereby  all  faered  adminiflrations  among  them 
could  have  no  validity.  There  could  be  no  valid  baptifms,  or 
facraments,  or  prayers,  or  preaching,  or  pardons,  until  that  in- 
terdift  was  taken  off ;  fo  that  that  people  remained,  in  their  ap- 
prehcnfion,  in  a  miferable,  damnable  ftate,  and  therefore  dread- 
ed it  as  they  would  a  ftorm  of  fire  and  brimftone  from  heaven. 
And  in  order  to  execute  his  wrath  on  a  prince  or  people  with 
whom  the  Pope  was  difpleafed,  other  princes  muft  alfo  be  put 
to  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  expenfc. 

And  as  the  Pope  and  his  clergy  robbed  the  people  of  their 
cGcIefiaftical  and  civil  liberties  and  privileges,  fo  they  alio  rob- 
bed them  of  their  eftates,  and  drained  all  Chriftendom  of  their 
money,  and  engroffed  the  moft  of  their  riches  into  their  own 
coffers,  by  their  vafl  revenues,  befides  pay  for  pardons  and  in- 
dulgences, baptifms  and  extreme  un6lions,  deliverance  out  of 
purgatory,  and  an  hundred  other  things,-- — See  how  well  this 
agrees  with  the  prophecies,  2  Thef.  ii.  3,  4.  Dan.  vii,  20,  21. 
Rev.  xiii.  6,  7.  &  chap.  xvii.  3,  4. 

During  this  time  alfo  fuperilition  and  ignorance  more  and 
more  prevailed.  The  holy  fcriptures  by  degrees  were  taken  out 
of  the  hands  of  the  laity,  the~.  better  to  promote  the  unfcriptural 
and  wicked  defigns  of  the  Pope  and  the  clergy  ;  and  in  (lead  of 
promoting  knowledge  among  the  people,  they  induftrioufly  pro- 
moted ignorance.  It  was  a  received  maxim  among  them,  That 
ignorance  is  the  mother  of  devotion  ;  And  fo  great  was  the 
darknefs  of  thofe  times,  that  learning  was  almofl  extinft  in  the 
world.  The  very  priells  themfelves,  mofl  of  them,  were  bar- 
baroully  ignorant  as  to  any  commendable  learning,  or  any  other 
knowledge,  than  their  hellifh  craft  in  opprcfTing  and  tyranniz- 
ing over  the  fouls  of  the  people.  The  fuperftition  and  wicked- 
nefs  of  the  church  of  Rome,  kept  growing  worfe  and  worfe  un- 
til the  very  time  of  the  Reformation  ;  and  the  whole  Chriftian 
world  were  led  away  into  this  great  defeftion,  excepting  the  re- 
mains of  the  Chriftian  church  in  the  Eaftern  empire  that  had 

not 


Part  II.  1.     W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N,        265 

not  been  utterly  overthrown  by  the  Turks,  as  the  Greek  church, 
and  feme  others,  which  were  alfo  funk  into  great  darknefs  and 
grofs  fuperftition,  excepting  alfo  thofe  few  that  were  the  people 
of  God,  who  are  reprefented  by  the  woman  in  the  wildernefs, 
and  God's  two  witnefTes,  of  which  more  hereafter. 

This  is  one  of  thofe  two  great  kingdoms  which  the  devil  in 
this  period  ere6led  in  oppofition  to  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and 
was  the  greateft  and  chief,     I  come  now, 

(t.)  To  fpeak  of  the  other,  the  fecond,  which  is  in  many 
refpefts  like  unto  it,  viz,  his  Mahometan  kingdom,  which  is 
another  great  kingdom  of  mighty  power  and  vaft  extent,  fet  up 
by  Satan  againft  the  kingdom  of  Chrift  :  He  fet  this  up  in  the 
Eaftern  empire,,  as  he  did  that  of  Antichrift  in  the  Weftern. 

Mahomet  was  born  in  the  year  of  Chrift  570,  in  Arabia. 
When  he  was  about  forty  years  of  age,  he  began  to  give  forth 
that  he  was  the  great  prophet  of  God,  and  began  to  teach  his 
new  invented  religion,  of  which  he  was  to  be  worfhipped  as  the 
head  next  under  God.  He  publiflied  his  Alcoran,  which  he 
pretended  he  received  from  the  angel  Gabriel  ;  and  being  ^ 
fubtle  crafty  man,  and  poflefTed  of  confiderable  wealth,  and  liv- 
ing among  a  people  who  were  very  ignorant,  and  greatly  divid- 
ed in  their  opinions  of  religious  matters,  by  fubtlety,  and  fair 
promifes  of  a  fenfual  paradife,  he  gained  a  number  to  be  his  fol- 
lowers, and  fet  up  for  their  prince,  and  propagated  his  religion 
by  the  fword,  and  made  it  meritorious  of  paradife  to  fight  for 
him.  By  which  means  his  party  grew,  and  went  on  fighting 
until  they  conquered  and  brought  over  the  neighbouring  coun^ 
tries  ;  and  fo  his  party  gradually  grew  until  they  overran  a  great 
part  of  the  world,  Firft,  the  Saracens,  who  were  fome  of  his 
followers,  and  were  a  people  of  the  country  of  Arabia,  where 
Mahomet  lived,  about  the  year  700,  began  dreadfully  to  wafte 
the  Roman  empire.  They  overran  a  great  many  countries  be- 
longing to  the  empire,  and  continued  their  conquefts  for  a  long 
time.  Thefe  are  fuppofed  to  be  meant  by  the  locufts  that  we 
read  of  in  the  9th  chapter  of  Revelation.    "^ 

And  then  after  this  the  Turks,  who  were  originally  another 
people,  different  from  the  Saracens,  but  were  followers  of  Ma- 
homet, conquered  all  the  Eaftern  empire.  They  began  their 
empire  about  the  year  of  Chrift  1296,  and  began  to  invade  Eu- 
rope 1300,  and  took  Conftantinople,  and  fo  became  mafters  of 
all  the  Eaftern  empire  in  the  year  1453,  which  is  near  three 
K  k  hundred 


266  A    H  I  S  T  O  P.  Y    OF  THE  Period  III. 

.hundred  years  ago.  And  ihus  all  thofe  cities  and  countries 
where  were  thofe  famous  churches  of  old,  that  we  read  ol  in  the 
New  Teflament,  as  Jerufalem,  Antioch,  Ephefus,  Corinth,  &c, 
now  all  became  fubje£l  to  the  Turks,  And  they  took  pofTefTion 
of  Conflantinople,  which,  was  named  after  Copflantine  the 
Great,  being  made  by  him  the  head  city  of  the  Roman  empire, 
whereas  Rome  had  been  until  then.  Thefe  are  fuppofed  to  be 
propheficd  of  by  the  horferaen  in  the  9th  chapter  of  Revelation, 
beginning  with  the  15th  verfe.  And  the  remains  of  the  Chrif- 
tians  th^t  arc  in  thofe  parts  of  the  world,  who  are  mofily  of  the 
Greek  church,  are  in  miferable  flavery  under  thefe  Turks,  and 
treated  with  a  great  deal  of  barbarity  and  cruelty,  and  arc  be- 
come moftly  very  ignorant  and  fuperftitious. 

Thus  I  have  fhown  what  great  works  of  Satan  were  wrought 
during  this  fpace  of  time  in  oppofition  to  the  kingdom  of  Chrift. 

2.  I  come  now  to  fliow  how  the  church  of  Chrifl  was  up- 
held through  this  datTc  time. And  here, 

(1.)  It  is  to  be  obferved,  that  towards  the  former  part  of  this 
fpace  of  time,  fome  of  the  nations  of  Chriilendom  held  out  a 
long  time  before  they  complied  with  the  corruptions  and  ufurp- 
ations  of  the  church  of  Rome,  Though  all  the  world  wonder- 
ed  after  the  beall,  yet.  all  nations  did  not  fall  in  at  once.  Many 
of  the  principal  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Rome  were  brought 
in  with  a  great  deal  of  ftruggle^nd  oppofition  ;  and  particular- 
ly, when  the  Pope  gave  out,  that  he  was  univerfal  bifhop,  many 
churches  greatly  oppofed  him  in  it  ;  and  it  was  a  long  time  be* 
fore  they  would,  yield  to  his  exorbitant  claims.  And  fo,  when 
tho,wor{hip  of  images  was  firft  brought  into  the  churches,  there 
were  many  who  greatly  oppofed  it,  and  long  held  out  againft  it. 
And  fo  with  refpetl  to  other  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Rome, 
Thofe  people  that  dwelt  nearer  to  the  city  of  Rome  complied 
fooner,  but  fome  that  were  more  remote,  were  a  long  time  be- 
fore they  could  be  induced  to  put  their  necks  under  the  yoke  ; 
And  particularly  ecclefiaflical  hiflory  gives  an  account,  that  it 
was  fo  with  great  part  of  the  churches  in  England,  and  Scotland, 
and  France,  who  retained  the  ancient  purity  of  doftrine  and 
worfhip  much  longer  than  many  others  who  wxre  nearer  the 
chief  feat  of  Antichrift.. 

(2.)  In  every  age  of  this  dark  time,  there  appeared  particular 
perfons  in  all  parts  of  Chriflendom,  who  bore  a  teftimony 
againft  the  corruptions  and  tyranny  of  the  church  of  Rome* 

There 


Paitn.i.     WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.  267 

There  is  no  one  age  of  A.ntichrifh,  even  in  the  darkefl  times  of 
all,  but  ecclefiaftical  hiftorians  mention  great  many  by  name 
who  manifcfted  an  abhorrence  of  the  Pope,  and  his  idolatrous 
worfbip,  and  pleaded  for  the  ancient  purity  of  do£lrine  and 
worfhip.  God  was  pleaicd  to  maintain  an  uninterrupted  fuccef- 
'fion  of  witneffcs  through  the  whole  time,  in  Germany,  France, 
Britain,  and  other  countries  ;  as  hiftorians  demonftrate,  and 
mention  them  by  name,  and  gi\'e  an  account  of  the  teflimonv 
which  they.  held.  Many  of  them  were  private  perfons,  .and 
many  of  them  minifters,  and  fome  magiflrates,  and  perfons  of 
great  diftinftion.  And  there  were  numbers  in  every  age  who 
were  perfecuted  and  put  to  death  for  this  teftimony. 

(3.)  Befides  thefe  particular  perfons  difperfed  here  and  there, 
there  was  a  certain  people,  called  the  JValdenfcs,  who  lived  fep- 
arate  from  all  the  reft  of  the  world,  who  kept  themfelves  pure, 
and  conftantly  bore  a  teftimony  againft  the  church  of  Rome 
through  all  this  dark  time.  The  place  where  they  dwelt  was 
the  Vaudois,  or  the  five  valleys  of  Piedmont,  a  very  mountain- 
ous country,  between  Italy  and  France.  The  place  where  they 
lived  was  compafled  about  with  thofe  exceeding  high  mountains 
called  the  Alps,  which  were  almoft  impaffable.  The  pafTage 
oven  thefe  mountainous  defert  countries,  was  ib  difficult,  that 
the  valleys  where  this  peopLe  dwelt  were  almoft  inacceflible. 
There  this  people  lived  for  many  ^ges,  as  it  were,  alone,  in  a 
flate  of  fcparation  from  all  the  world,  having  very  little  to  do 
with  any  other  people.  And  there  they  ferved  God  in  the  an- 
cient purity  of  his  worfhip,  and  never  fubmitted  to  the  church 
of  Rome.  This  place  in  this  defert  mountainous  country,  prob- 
ably was  the  place  efpecially  meant  in  the  12th  chapter  of  Rev- 
elation, 6th  verfe,  as  the  place  prepared  of  God  for  the  woman, 
that  they  fhould  feed  her  there  during  the  reign  of  Antichrift, 

Some  of  the  Popifli  writers  themfelves  own,  that  that  people 
never  fubmitted  to  the  church  of  Rome,  One  of  the  Popifh 
writers,  fpeaking  of  the  Waldenfes,  fays,  The  herefy  of  the 
Waldenfcs  is  the  oldeft  herely  in  the  world.  It  is  fuppofed 
that  this  people  firft  betook  themfelves  to  this  defert  fecret  place 
among  the  mountains,  to  hide  themfelves  from  the  fcverity  of 
the  heathen  perfections  which  were  before  Conftantine  the 
Great.  And  thus  the  woman  fled  into  the  wildernefs  from  the 
face  of  the  ferpent,  Rev.  xii.  6.  And  fo,  verf,  14.  «'  And  to 
the  woman  were  given  tvro   wings  of  a  great  eagle,  that  (he 

might 


268  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    of    the  Period  III. 

might  fly  into  the  wildernefs,  into  her  place:  Where  fhe  is 
nourifhed  for  a  time,  and  times,  and  half  a  time,  from  the  face 
of  the  ferpent."  And  the  people  being  fettled  there,  their  pof- 
terity  continued  there  from  age  to  age  afterwards  :  And  being, 
as  it  were,  by  natural  walls,  as  well  as  by  God's  grace,  feparated 
from  the  red  of  the  world,  never  partook  of  the  overflowing 
corruption. 

Thefe  efpecially  were  thofe  virgins  who  were  not  defiled  with 
the  reft  of  women,  or  when  other  women  proflituted  themfelves 
and  were  defiled  ;  but  they  kept  themfelves  pure  for  Chrift 
alone:  They  followed  the  Lamb, their  fpiritual  hufljand, whith- 
erfoever  he  went :  They  followed  him  into  this  hideous  wilder- 
nefs. Rev,  xiv.  4,  5. — Their  doftrine  and  their  worfliip,  as 
there  ftill  remain  accounts  of  them,  appear  to  be  the  fame  with 
the  Proteftant  doftrine  and  worfhip  ;  and  by  the  confeflion  of 
Popilh  writers,  they  were  a  people  remarkable  for  the  flirift- 
nefs  of  their  lives,  for  charity  and  other  Chrifl:ian  virtues. 
They  lived  in  external  poverty  in  this  hideous  country ;  but 
they  chofe  this  rather  than  to  comply  with  the  great  corrup- 
tions of  the  reft  of  the  world. 

They  living  in  fo  fecret  a  place,  it  was  a  long  time  before  they 
feem  to  have  been  much  taken  notice  of  by  the  Romaniflis ; 
but  at  laft.  falling  under  obfervation,  they  went  out  in  mighty 
armies  again  ft  them,  and  fell  upon  them  with  infatiable  cruelty, 
barbaroufly  maflacring  and  putting  to  death  men,  women,  and 
children,  with  all  imaginable  tortures  ;  and  fo  continued  perfe- 
cuting  them  with  but  little  intermifllon  for  feveral  hundred 
years;  by  which  means  many  of  them  were  driven  out  of  their 
old  habitations  in  the  valleys  of  Piedmont,  and  fled  into  all  parts 
of  Europe,  carrying  with  them  their  doftrine,  to  which  many 
were  brought  over.  So  their  perfecutors  could  not  by  all  their 
cruelties  extirpate  the  church  of  God ;  fo  fulfilling  his  word, 
*'  that  the  gates  of  hell  fhould  not  prevail  againft  it." 

(4.)  Tov/ards  the  latter  part  of  this  dark  time,  feveral  noted 
divines  openly  appeared  to  defend  the  truth,  and  bear  teftimony 
againft  the  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Rome,  and  had  many 
followers.  The  firft  and  principal  of  thefe  was  a  certain  Eng- 
lifli  divine,  whofc  name  was  John  Wicklijf,  who  appeared  about 
140  years  before  the  Reformation^'  and  ftrenuoufly  oppofed  the 
Poplfli  religion,  and  taught  the  fame  do£lrine  that  the  Reform- 
ers afterwards  did,   and  had  many  followers  in  England.     He 

was 


Part  II.  1.      WORK    or   REDEMPTION.         269 

was  hotly  perfecuted  in  his  lifetime,  yet  died  in  peace  ;  and  af- 
ter he  was  buried,  his  bones  were  dug  up  by  his  perfecutors, 
and  burnt.  His  followers  remained  in  confiderable  numbers  in 
England  until  the  Preformation,  and  were  cruelly  perfecuted, 
and  multitudes  put  to  death  for  their  religion. 

WicklifF  had  many  difciples  and  followers,  not  only  in  Eng- 
land, but  in  other  parts  of  Europe,  whither  his  books  were  car- 
ried ;  and  particularly  in  Bohemia,  among  whom  were  two  em- 
inent divines,  the  name  of  one  v/as  J^okn  Hufs,  the  other's  name 
was  Jtrom^  a  divine  belonging  to  Prague,  the  chief  city  of  Bo- 
hemia. Thefe  llrenuoully  oppofed  the  church  of  Rome,  and 
had  many  who  adhered  to  them.  They  were  both  burnt  by  the 
Papifls  for  their  doftrine ;  and  their  followers  in  Bohemia  were 
cruelly  perfecuted,  but  never  extirpated  until  the  Reformation. 
Thus  having  gone  through  this  dark  time  of  the  church, 
which  is  the  fecond  part  of  the  fpace  from  Conflantine  the 
Great  to  the  deflruftion  of  Antichrill,  I  come  now, 

3^//,  To  the  third  part,  viz.  that  which  begins  with  the  Ref- 
ormation, and  reaches  to  the  prefent  time.  And  here  I  would, 
1.  Speak  of  the  Reformation  itfelf;  2.  The  oppofition  which 
the  devil  has  made  to  the  Reformed  church  ;  3.  What  fuccefs 
there  has  lately  been  of  the  gofpel  in  one  place  and  another  ; 
4.  What  the  (late  of  things  is  now  in  the  world  with  regard  to 
the  church  of  Chrift,  and  the  fuccefs  of  his  purchafe. 

1.  Here  the  firft  thing  to  be  taken  notice  of  is  the    Reforma- 
tion,    This  was  begun  about  220  years  ago  :   Firfl  in  Saxony  in 
Germany,   by  the  preaching  of  Martin   Luther,  who  being  ftir- 
red  in  his  fpirit,  to  fee  the  horrid  praftices  of  the  Popifh  clergy, 
and  having   fet  himfelf  diligently  to  inquire  after  truth,  by  the 
ftudy  of  the  holy  fcriptures,  and  the  writings  of  the  ancient  fa- 
thers of  the  church,  very  openly  and  boldly  decried  the  corrup- 
tions  and   ufurpations  of  the  Romifh  church   in   his  preaching 
and  writings,  and  had  foon  a  great  number  that  fell  in  with  him; 
among  whom  was  the  Eleftor  of  Saxony,  the  fovereign  prince 
of  the  country  to  which  he  belonged.     This  greatly  alarmed  the 
church  of  Rome  ;  and  it  did  as  it  were  rally  all  its   force  to  op- 
pofe  him  and    his  do6lrine,  and   fierce   wars  and  perfecutions 
were   raifed   again fl  it  :   But   yet  it  went    on   by  the  labours  of 
Luther    and   Melanflhon   in  Germany,    and  Zuinglius  in  Swit- 
zerland, and  other  eminent  divines,  who  were  cotemporary  with 
XjUther,  and  fell  in  with  him  j  and  particularly  Calvin,  who  ap- 
peared 


270  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    THE  Period  III. 

peared  fomething  after  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation,   but 
was  one  of  the  raoft  eminent  Reformers. 

Many  of  the  princes  of  Germany  foon  fell  in  with  the  Re- 
formed religion,  and  many  other  ftatcs  and  kingdoms  in  Eu- 
rope, as  England,  Scotland,  Sweden,  Denmark,  Norway  great 
part  of  France,  Poland,  Lithuania,  Switzerland,  and  the  Low 
Countries.  So  that  it  is  thought,  that  heretofore  about  half 
Ohriftendom  were  of  the  Proteftant  religion  ;  though,  fince,  the 
Papifts  have  gained  grounds:  So  that  the  Proteftants  now  have 
not  fo  great  a  proportion. 

Thus  God  began  glorioufly  to  revive  his  church  again,    and 
advance  the  kingdom  of  his  Son,   after  fuch  a  difmal    night  of 
darknefs  as  had   been  before  from  the  rife  of  Antichrill  to   that 
time.     There  had  been  many  endeavours  ufed  by  the  wit^neffes 
for  the  truth  for  a  reformation  before.     But  now,   when  God's 
appointed  time  was  come,   his  work  was   begun,  and  went   on 
with  a  fwift  and  wonderful  progrefs  ;  and  Antichrift,  who  had 
been  rifing  higher  and  higher  from  his   very  firfl:  beginning  un- 
til that  time,  was  fwiftly  and   fuddenly  brought  down,  and   fell 
half  way  towards  utter  ruin,  and  never  has  been  able   to  rife 
again  to  his  former  height.     A  certain  very  late  expofitor  (Mr. 
Lowman)  who  explains  the  five  firft  vials  in  the    i6th   chapter 
of  Revelation,  with   greater  probability  perhaps   than   any  who 
went  before  him,  explains  the  fifth  vial,  which  was  poured   out 
on  the  feat  of  the  beaft,   of  what  came  to  pafs  in  the  Reforma- 
tion ;  .explaining  the  four  preceding  vials  of  certain  great  judg- 
ments God   brought  on  the  Popifh  dominions  before  the  Refor- 
mation.    It  is  faid,    Rev.  xvi.  lo,  that  "  the  fifth  angel  poured 
out  his  vial  on  the  feat  of  the  beaft  ;"  in  the  original,  it  is  ikt 
throne  of  the  beafi  j  "  and  his  kingdom  was  full  of  darknefs,  and 
they  gnawed  their  tongues   for  pain,   and  blafphemed  the  God 
of   heaven  becaufe  of  their  pains  and  their  fores,  and  repented 
not  of  their  deeds.'*     He   poured  out  his  vial  upon  the   throne 
of  the  beaft,  i.  e.  on  the  authority  and  dominion  of  the  Pope  : 
So  the  word  throne  is  often  ufed  in  fcripture  ;  fo*  i  Kings  i.  37. 
"  As  the  Lord  hath  been  with  my  lord  the  king,  even  fo  be  he 
with  Solomon,   and   make  his  throne  greater  than  the  throne  of 
my  lord  King  David  ;"  i.  e.  make  his  dominion   and  authority 
greater,  and  his  kingdom' more  gloriou$. 

But  now,  in  the  Reformation,  the  vials  of  God's  wrath  wetT 
poured  out  on  the  throne  of  the  beaft.     His  throne  was  terribly 

fliaken 


Partll.i,    WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        271 

fhaken  and  diminiOied.  The  Pope's  authority  and  dominiorv 
was  greatly  diminifhed,  both  as  to  the  extent  and  degree.  He 
loftj  as  was  faid  before,  about  half  his  dominions.  And  befides, 
fmce  the  Reformation,  the  Pope  has  loft  great  part  of  that  au- 
thority, even  in  the  Popifh  dominions,  which  he  had  before. 
He  is  not  regarded,  and  his  power  is  dreaded  in  no  meafure  as 
it  was  wont  to  be.  The  powers  of  Europe  have  learned  not  to 
put  their  liccks  under  the  Pope's  feet,  as  formerly  they  were 
wont  to  do^  So  that  he  is  as  a  Hon  that  has  loft  his  teeth,  in 
comparifon  of  what  he  was  once.  And  when  the  Pope  and  his 
clergy,  enraged  to  fee  their  authority  fo  diminifhed  at  the  Refor- 
mation, laid  their  heads  together,  and  joined  their  forces  to  de- 
flroy  the  Reformation  ;  their  policy,  which  was  wont  to  ferve 
them  fo  well,  failed  ;  and  they  found  their  kingdom  full  of 
darknefs,  fo  that  they  could  do  nothing,  any  more  than  the  E- 
gyptians,  who  rofe  not  from  their  feats  for  three  days.  The 
Reformed  church  was  defended  as  Lot  and  the  angels  wefe  in 
Sodom,  by  fmiting  the  Sodomites  with  darknefs  or  blindnefs, 
that  they  could  not  find  the  door.  God  then  fulfilled  that  in 
Job  V.  11,  &c.  "  To  fet  up  on  high  thofe  that  be  low  ;  that 
thofe  which  mourn  may  be  exalted  to  fafety.  Pie  difappointeth 
the  devices  of  the  crafty,  fo  that  their  hands  cannot  peiform 
their  enterprife.  He  taketh  the  wife  in  their  own  craftinefs  ; 
And  the  counfel  of  the  frovvard  is  carried  headlong.  They  meet 
with  darknefs  in  the  day  time,  and  grope  in  the  noon  day  as  in 
the  night.  But  he  faveth  the  poor  from  the  fword,  from  their 
mouth,  and  from  the  hand  of  the  mighty." 

Thofe  proud  enemies  of  God's  people  being  fo  difappointed, 
and  finding  themfelves  fo  unable  to  uphold  their  own  dominion 
and  authority,  this  made  them  as  it  were  to  gnaw  their  tongues 
for  pain,  or  bite  their  tongues  for  mere  rage, 

2.  I  proceed  therefore  to  fhow  what  oppofition  has  been  made 
to  this  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  by  the  Reformation  by  Satam 
and  his  adherents  ;  obfcrving,  as  we  go  along,  how  far  the^ 
have  been  baEEled,  and  how  far  they  have  been  fuccefsful. 

The  oppofition  which  Satan  has  made  again  ft  the  Reformed 
religion  has  been  principally  of  the  following  kinds,  viz.  that 
which  was  made,  1.  By  a  general  council  of  the  church  of 
Rome  ;  2.  By  fecret  plots  and  devices  ;  3.  By  open  wars  and 
invafions  ;  4.  By  cruel  oppreffion  and  perfecution  ;  and  5.  By 
bringing  in  corrupt  coinions. 

(1,)  The 


272  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE         Period  III. 

(i.)  The  firll  oppofition  that  I  fliall  take  notice  of  is  that 
which  was  made  by  the  clergy  of  the  church  of  Rome  uniting 
together  in  a  general  council.  This  was  the  famous  council  of 
Trent,  which  the  Pope  called  a  little  while  after  the  Reforma- 
tion. In  that  council,  there  met  together  fix  cardinals,  thirty 
two  archbifhops,  two  hundred  and  twenty  eight  bifhops,  befides 
innumerable  others  of  the  Romifii  clergy.  This  council,  in  all 
their  fittings,  including  the  times  of  intermifiion  between  their 
fittings,  was  held  for  twenty  five  years  together.  Their  main 
bufinefs  all  this  while  was  to  concert  meafures  for  eflablifhing 
the  church  of  Rome  againft  the  Reformers,  and  for  deftroying 
the  Reformation.  But  it  proved  that  they  were  not  able  to 
perform  their  enterprife.  The  Reformed  church,  notwithftand- 
ing  their  holding  fo  great  a  council,  and  for  fo  long  a  time  to- 
gether againft  it,  remained,  and  remains  ftill.  So  that  the  coun- 
iel  of  the  fnoward  is  carried  headlong,  and  their  kingdom  is  full 
of  darknefs,  and  they  weary  themfelves  to  find  the  door. 

Thus  the  church  of  Rome,  indead  of  repenting  of  their  deeds, 
when  fuch  clear  light  was  held  forth  to  them  by  Luther,  and 
other  fervants  of  God,  the  Reformers,  does,  by  general  agree- 
ment In  council,  perfifl:  in  their  vile  corruptions  and  wicked- 
nefs,  and  obftinate  oppofition  to  the  kingdom  of  Chrift.  The 
do6lrines  and  praftices  of  the  church  of  Rome,  which  were 
chiefly  condemned  by  the  Reformed,  were  confirmed  by  the 
decrees  of  their  council  ;  and  the  corruptions,  in  many  refpefts, 
were  carried  higher  than  ever  before  ;  and  they  uttered  blaf- 
phemous  reproaches  and  curfcs  againft  the  Reformed  religion, 
and  all  the  Reformed  church  was  excommunicated  and  anathe- 
matized by  thera  ;  and  fo,  according  to  the  prophecy,  "  they 
blafphemed  God.'*  Thus  God  hardened  their  hearts,  intending 
to  deftroy  them. 

(2.)  The  Papifts  have  often  endeavoured  to  overthrow  the 
Reformation  by  fecret  plots  and  confpiracies.  So  there  were 
many  plots  againft  the  life  of  Luther.  The  Papifts  were  engag- 
ed in  contriving  to  difpatch  him,  and  to  put  him  out  of  their 
way  ;  and  he,  as  he  was  a  very  bold  man,  often  very  much  ex- 
poled  himfelf  in  the  caufe  of  Chrift  :  But  yet  they  were  won- 
derfully prevented  from  hurting  him,  and  he  at  laft  died  in  his 
bed  in  peace.  And  fo  there  have  been  from  time  to  time  in- 
numerable fchemes  lecretly  laid  for  the  overthrow  of  the  Prot- 
cftant  religion  ;  among  which,  that  w-hich  feems  to  be  moft  con- 

fiderable, 


Part  11.  1.     WORK    ot    REDEMPTION.        273 

fiderable,  and  which  feemed  to  be  the  mofl  likely  to  have  taken 
efFeft,  was  that  which  was  in  the  time  of  King  James  II,  of  Eng- 
land, which  is  within  the  memory  of  many  of  us.    There  was  at 
that  time  a  ftrong  confpiracy  between  the  Pving  of  England  and 
Lewis  XIV,  of  France,  who  were  both  Papifts,  to  extirpate  the 
Northern  herefy,  as  they  called  the  Proteftant  religion,  not  only 
out    of  England,   but   out   of   all  Europe  ;  and   had  laid   their 
fchemes  fo,  that  they  feemed  to  be  almoll  fare  of  their  purpofe. 
They  looked  upon  it,   that  if   the  Reformed  religion  were  fup- 
preffed   in  the  Britifh  realms,   and  in  the  Netherlands,   which 
were  the  flrongefl  part,  and  chief  defence  of  the  Proteftant  in- 
tereft,  they  fhould  have  eafy  work  with  the   reft.     And  juft  as 
their  matters   feemed  to  be  come  to  a  head,   and  their  enterprlfe 
ripe  for  execution,  God,  in  his  providence,  fuddenly  daftied  all 
their  fchemes  in  pieces  by  the  Revolution,   at  the  coming  in  of 
King  William    and  Queen  Mary  ;  by   which   all   their  defigns 
were  at  an  end  ;  and   the  Proteftant  intereft  was  more  ftrongly 
eftablifhed,  by  the  crown  of  England's  being  eftabllfhed   in  the 
Proteftant  houfe  of  Hanover,  and  a  Papift  being,  by  the  confti- 
tution  of  the  nation,  for  ever  rendered  incapable  of  wearing  the 
crown  of  England.     Thus  they  groped  in  darknefs  at  noon  day 
as  in  the  night,  and  their  hands  could  not  perform  their  enter- 
prife,  and  their  kingdom  v/as  full  of  darknefs,  and  they  gnawed 
their  tongues  for  pain. 

After  this,  there  was  a  deep  defign  laid  to  bring  the  fame 
thing  to  pafs  in  the  latter  end  of  Queen  Anne's  reign,  by  the 
bringing  in  of  the  Popifh  pretender  ;  which  was  no  lefs  fudden- 
ly and  totally  baffled  by  divine  Providence  ;  as  the  plots  againft 
the  Reformation,  by  bringing  in  the  pretender,  have  been  from 
time  to  time, 

(3.)  The  Reformation  has  often  been  oppofed  by  open  wars 
and  invafions.  So  in  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation,  the 
Emperour  of  Germany,  to  fupprefs  the  Reformation,  declared 
war  with  the  Duke  of  Saxony,  and  the  principal  men  who  fa- 
voured and  received  Luther's  doftrine.  But  they  could  not  ob- 
tain their  end  ;  they  could  not  fupprefs  the  Reformation,  For 
the  fame  end,  the  King  of  Spain  maintained  a  long  war  with 
Holland  and  the  Low  Countries  in  the  century  before  laft.  But 
thofe  cruel  wars  iflued  greatly  to  the  difadvantage  of  the  Romifh 
church,  as  tl  ey  occafioned  the  fetting  up  of  one  of  the  mofl 
powerful  I.  oteftant  ftates  in  Europe,  which^  next  to  Greatbrit- 
L  I  ain, 


2^4  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    oy  this         Period  III. 

^  ai'n,  is  the  chief  barrier  of  the  ProteHant  religion.  And  the  de- 
fign  of  the  Spanifh  invafion  of  England  in  Queen  Elizabeth's 
time,  was  to  lupprefs  and  root  out  the  Reformed  religion  ;  and 
therefore  they  brought  in  their  fleet  all  manner  of  inlhuments 
of  cruelty  wherewith  to  torture  the  Proteftants  who  would  not 
renounce  the  Proteflant  religion.  But  their  dehgn  was  totally 
baffled,  and  their  mighty  fleet  in  a  great  meafure  ruined. 

(4.)  Satan  has  oppofed  the  Reformation  with  cruel  perfecu- 
tions*  The  perfecutions  with  which  the  Proteflants  in  one 
J^ingdom  and  another  have  been  perfecuted  by  the  church  of 
Rome,  have  in  many  refpe^^s  been  fiar  beyond  any  of  the  hea- 
then perfecutions  which  were  before  Conftantine  the  Great,  and 
beyond  all  that  ever  were  before.  So  that  Antichrift  has  prov- 
ed the  greatefl  and  cruelefl;  enemy  to  the  church  of  Chrift  that 
ever  was  iri  the  world,  in  this,  as  well  as  in  all  other  refpefts  ; 
agreeable  to  the  defcription  given  of  the  church  of  Rome,  Rev. 
Jivii.  6.  '*  And  I  faw  the, woman  drunken  with  the  blood  of  the 
faints,  and  with  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  of  Jefus."  And,  chap, 
:?jviii.  24.  *•  And  on  her  was  found  the  blood  of  prophets,  and  of 
faints,  and  of  all  them  that  were  flain  upon  the  earth." 

The  heathen  perfecutions  had  been  very  dreadful  ;  But  now 
perfecution  by  the  church  of  Rome  was  improved,  and  ftudied, 
and  cultivated,  as  an  art  or  fcience.  Such  ways  of  afflifling 
and  tormenting  were  found  out,  as  are  beyond  the  thought  and 
invention  of  ordinary  men,  or  men  who  are  unftudied  in  thofe 
things,  and  beyond  the  invention  of  all  former  ages.  And  that 
perfecution  might  be  managed  the  more  efFe6lually,  there  were 
certain  focieties  of  men  eftabliihed  in  various  parts  of  the  Popifii 
dominions,  whofe  bufmefs  it  fliould  be  to  ftudy,  and  improvC| 
and  praftife  perfecution  in  its  highefl  perfeftion,  which  are  thofe 
focieties  called  the  courts  of  inquifuion*  A  reading  of  the  partic- 
ular hiftories  of  the  Romifti  perfecution,  and  their  courts  of  in- 
quifition,  will  give  that  idea  which  a  few  words  cannot  exprefs. 

When  the  Reformation  began,  the  beaft  with  fevcn  heads  and 
ten  horns  began  to  rage  in  a  dreadful  manner.  After  the  Ref- 
ormation, the  church  of  Rome  renewed  its  perfecution  of  the 
poor  Waldenfesj  and  great  multitudes  of  them  were  cruelly  tor- 
tured and  put  to  death.  Soon  after  the  Reformation,  there 
were  terrible  perfecutions  in  various  parts  of  Germany  ;  and  ef- 
pecially  in  Bohemia,  which  lailed  for  thirty  years  together  ;  in 
which  fo  much  blood  was  flied  for  the  fake  of  religion,  that  a 

certain 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        275 

certain  wilter  compares  it  to  the  plenty  of  waters  of  the  great 
rivers  of  Germany.  The  countries  of  Poland,  Lithuania,  and 
Hungary,  were  in  like  manner  deluged  with  Protellant  blood. 

By  means  of  thefc  and  other  cruel  perfecutions,  the  Protel- 
tant  religion  was  in  a  great  mcafure  fuppreOTed  in  Bohemia,  and 
the  Palatinate,  and  Hungary,  which  before  were  as  it  were 
Proteflant  countries.  Thus  was  fulfilled  what  was  foretold  of 
the  little  horn,  Dan.  vii,  20,  21.  "  —  and  of  the  ten  horns  that 
were  in  his  head,  and  of  the  other  which  came  up,  and.  before 
whom  three  fell,  even  of  that  horn  that  had  eyes,  and  a  mouth 
that  fpake  very  great  things,  whofc  look  was  more  flout  than 
his  fellows.  I  beheld,  and  the  fame  horn  made  war  with  the 
faints,  and  prevailed  againft  them."  And  what  was  foretold  of 
the  beaft  having  feven  heads  and  ten  horns.  Rev,  xiii.  7.  **  And 
it  was  given  unto  him  to  make  war  with  the  faints,  and  to  over- 
come them  :  And  power  was  given  him  over  all  kindreds,  and 
tongues,  and  nations." 

Alfo  Holland  and  the  other  Low  Countries  were  for  many 
years  a  fcene  of  nothing  but  the  mofl  affefting  and  amazing 
cruelties,  being  deluged  with  the  blood  of  ProteiUnts,  under  the 
mercilefs  hands  of  the  Spaniards,  to  whom  they  were  then  in 
fubje6bion.  But  in  this  perfecution,  the  devil  in  a  great  meaf- 
ure  failed  of  his  purpofe  ;  as  it  ilTued  in  a  great  part  of  the 
Netherlands  calling  off  the  Spanifh  yoke,  and  fetting  up  a 
wealthy  and  powerful  Proteftant  flate,  to  the  great  defence  of 
the  Proteftant  caufe  ever  fince, 

France  alfo  is  another  country,  which,  fince  the  Reformation, 
in  fome  refpe6ls,  perhaps  more  than  any  other,  has  been  a  fcen« 
of  dreadful  cruelties  lulfered  by  the  Protellants  there.  After 
many  cruelties  had  been  exercifed  towards  the  Protellants  in 
that  kingdom,  there  was  begun  a  perfecution  of  them  in  the 
year  1571,  in  the  reign  of  Charles  IX,  King  of  France.  It  be- 
gan with  a  cruel  maffacrc,  wherein  70.000  Protellants  were  flain 
in  a  few  days'  time,  as  the  King  boafled  :  And  in  all  this  per- 
fecution, he  flew,  as  is  fuppofed,  300,000  martyrs.  And  it  is 
reckoned,  that  about  this  time,  within  thirty  years,  there  were 
martyred  in  this  kingdom,  for  the  Proteftant  religion,  39 
princes,  148  counts,  234  barons,  147,518  gentlemen,  and  760,003 
of  the  common  people. 

But  all  thefe  perfecutions  were,  for  exqulfite  cruelty,  far  ex- 
ceeded by  thofc  whifh  followed  in  tbeteignof  Lewis  XIV, 

which 


276  aHISTORYof  the  Period  III. 

which  indeed  are  fuppofed  to  exceed  all  others  that  ever  have 
been  ;  and  being  long  continued,  by  reafon  of  the  long  reign 
of  that  king,  alrnoft  wholly  extirpated  the  Proteflant  religion 
out  of  that  kingdorn,  where  had  been  before  a  multitude  of  fa- 
mous Proteflant  churches  all  over  the  kingdom.  Thus  it  was 
given  to  the  beaft  to  make  war  with  the  faints,  and  to  overcome 
them. 

There  was  alfo  a  terrible  perfecution  in  England  in  Queen 
Mary's  time,  wherein  great  numbers  in  ail  parts  of  the  kingdom 
were  burnt  alive.  And  after  this,  though  the  Proteilant  relig- 
ion has  been  for  the  mo  ft  part  eftablifhed  by|aw  in  England, 
yet  there  have  been  very  fevere  perl'ecutionsby  the  high  church- 
men, who  fymbolize  in  many  things  with  the  Papifts,  Such  a 
perfecution  was  that  which  occafioned  our  forefathers  to  flee 
from  their  native  country,  and  to  come  and  fettle  in  this  land, 
which  was  then  an  hideous  howling  wildernefs.  And  thefe 
perfecutions  were  continued  with  little  intermiflion  until  King 
.William  came  to  the  throne, 

Scotland  has  alfo  been  the  fcene,  for  many  years  together,  of 
cruelties  and  blood  by  the  hands  of  high  churchmen,  fuch  as 
came  very  little  fhort  of  the  Popifh  perfecution  in  Queen 
Mary's  days,  and  in  many  things  much  exceeded  it,  which  con- 
tinued until  they  were  delivered  by  King  William. 

Ireland  alfo  has  been  as  it  were  overwhelmed  with  Protef- 
tant  blood,  In  the  days  of  King  Charles  I,  of  England,  above 
200,000  Proteflants  were  cruelly  murdered  in  that  kingdom  in  a 
few  days  ;  the  Papifts,  by  a  fecret  agreement,  rifmg  all  over  the 
kingdom  at  an  appointed  time,  intending  to  kill  every  Protef« 
tant  in  the  kingdom  at  once. 

Befides  thefe,  there  have  been  very  cruel  perfecutions  in  Italy, 
and  Spain,  and  other  places,  which  I  fhall  not  ftand  to  relate. 

Thus  did  the  devil,  aad  his  great  minifler  Antichrift,  rage 
with  fuch  violence  and  cruelty  againft  the  church  of  Chrift  !  and 
thus  did  the  whore  of  Babylon  make  herfelf  drunk  with  the 
blood  of  the  faints  and  martyrs  of  Jefus  !  and  thus,  by  thefe  per- 
fecutions, the  Proteftant  church  has  been  much  diminiflied  ! 
Yet  with  all  have  they  not  been  able  to  prevail ;  but  ftill  the 
Proteftant  church  is  upheld,  and  Chrift  fuliils  his  promife,  that 
^'  the  gates  of  hell  fhall  not  prevail  againft  his  church.'* 

(5.)  The  laft  kind  of  oppofition  that  Satan  has  made  to  the 
Refgjmation  is  by  corrupt  opinions,     Satan  has  oppofpd  tlie 

light 


?ait  II.  i.     WORK    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.        277 

light  of  the  gofpel  which  fhone  forth  in  the  Reformation  with 
many  corrupt  opinions,  which  he  has  brought  in  and  propagat- 
ed in  the  woild. 

And  here,  in  the  firfl  place,  the  firfl  oppohtion  of  this  kind 
was  by  railing  up  the  feft  of  the  Anabaptiils,  which  began  about 
four  or  five  years  after  the  Reformation  itfelf  began.  Thisfeflj 
as  it  firll  appeared  in  Germany,  were  vafbly  more  extravagant 
than  the  prefent  Anabaptiits  are  in  England.  They  held  a  great 
many  exceeding  corrupt  opinions.  One  tenet  of  theirs  was, 
-That  there  ought  to  be  no  civil  authority,  and  fo  that  it  was 
'lawful  to  rebel  againfl  civil  authority.  And  on  this  principle, 
they  refufed  to  fubmit  to  magiftrates,  or  any  human  laws;  and 
gathered  together  in  vaft  armies,  to  defend  themfelves  againO: 
their  civil  rulers,  and  put  all  Germany  into  an  uproar,  and  fo 
kept  it  for  fome  time. 

The  next  oppofition  of  this  kind  to  the  Reformation  was  tliat 
which  was  made  by  enthufiafts.  Thofe  are  called  enthufiafts 
who  falfely  pretend  to  be  infpired  by  the  Holy  Ghofl  as  the 
prophets  were,  Thefe  began  in  Germany  about  ten  years  after 
Luther  began  the  Reformation  ;  and  there  arofe  various  feels 
of  them  who  were  exceeding  wild  and  extravagant.  The  fol- 
lowers of  thefe  are  the  Quakers  in  England,  and  other  parts  of 
the  Britifh  dominions. 

The  next  to  thefe  were  the  Socinians,  who  had  their  begin- 
ning chiefly  in  Poland,  by  the  teaching  of  two  men  ;  the  name 
of  the  one  was  Lcclius  Socinus,  of  the  other,  Faujius  Socinus. 
They  held,  that  Chrill  was  a  mere  man,  and  denied  Chrill^s 
fatisfatlion,  and  moll  of  the  fundamental  do6lrines  of  the  Chrift- 
ian  religion.  Their  herely  has  fmce  been  greatly  propagated 
among  Proteftants  in  Poland,  Germany,  Holland,  England,  and 
other  places. 

After  thefe  arofe  the  Arminlans.  Thefe  firll  appeared  in 
Holland  about  130  years  ago.  They  take  their  name  from  a 
Dutchman,  whofe  name  was  Jacobus  Van  Harmin^  which,  turn- 
ed into  Latin,  is  called  jfacebus  Arminius  ;  and  from  his  name  the 
whole  fe61;  are  called  Arminlans,  This  Jacobus  Arminius  was 
firfl  a  minifter  at  Amflerdam,  and  then  a  profelior  of  divinity 
in  the  univerfity  of  Leyden.  He  had  many  followers  in  Hol- 
land. There  was  upon  this  a  fynod  of  all  the  Reformed 
churches  called  together,  who  met  at  Dort  in  Holland.  The 
fyngd  of   Dort  condemned  them ;  but  yet  they  fpread  and  pre- 

vailod. 


278  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Periad  IH. 

vailed.  They  began  to  prevail  in  England  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  I,  efpecially  in  the  church  of  England.  The  church 
of  England  divines  before  that  were  almofl  univerfally  Calvin* 
ids :  But  fince  that,  Arminianifm  has  gradually  more  and  more 
prevailed,  vmtil  they  are  become  almofl  univerfally  Arminians. 
And  not  only  fo,  but  Arminianifm  has  greatly  prevailed  among 
the  Diffenters,  and  has  fpread  greatly  in  Newengland,  as  well 
as  Old. 

Since  this,  Arianifm  lias  been  revived.  As  I  told  you  be- 
fore, Arianifm,  a  little  after  Conllantine's  time,  almofl  fwallow- 
ed  up  the  Chrillian  world,  like  a  flood  out  of  the  mouth  of  the 
ferpent  which  threatened  to  fw allow  up  the  woman.  And  of 
late  years,  this  herefy  has  been  revived  in  England,  and  greatly 
prevails  there,  both  in  the  church  of  England,  and  among  Dif- 
fenters.  Thefe  hold,  that  Chrifl  is  but  a  mere  creature,  though 
they  grant  that  he  is  the  greatcft  of  all  creatures. 

Again,  another  thing  which  has  of  late  exceedingly  prevailed 
»mong  Proteflartts,  and  efpecially  in  England,  is  Deifm.  The 
Deiils  wholly  cafl  off  the  Chriflian  religion,  and  are  profefTed 
infidels.  They  are  not  like  the  hereticks,  Arians,  Socinians, 
and  others,  who  own  the  fcriptures  to  be  the  word  of  God,  and 
hold  the  Chriflian  religion  to  be  the  true  religion,  but  only  de- 
ny thefe  and  thefe  fundamental  doftrines  of  the  Chriflian  relig- 
ion :  They  deny  the  whole  Chriflian  religion.  Indeed  they 
cwn  the  being  of  God  \  but  deny  that  Chrifb  was  the  fon  of 
God,  and  fay  he  was  a  mere  cheat ;  and  fo  they  fay  all  the 
prophets  and  apoflles  were  :  And  they  deny  the  whole  fcrip- 
ture.  They  deny  that  any  of  it  is  the  word  of  God.  They 
deny  any  revealed  religion,  or  any  word  of  God  at  all ;  and 
idj,  that  God  has  given  mankind  no  other  light  to  walk  by  but 
their  own  reafon,  Thefe  fentiments  and  opinions  our  nation, 
which  is  the  principal  nation  of  the  Reformation,  is  very  much 
overrun  with,  and  they  prevail  more  and  more. 

Thus  much  concerning  the  oppofition  that  Satan  has  made 
sgainfl  the  Reformation. 

3.  I  proceed  now  to  fhow  what  fuccefs  the  gofpel  has  more 
lately  had,  or  what  fuccefs  it  has  had  in  thefe  later  times  of  th© 
Reformed  church.  This  fuccefs  may  be  reduced  to  thefe  three 
heads:  1.  Reformation  in  dodrine  and  worfhip  in  countries 
called  Chriflian  ;  2.  Propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  the  hea- 
then ;  3.  Revival  of  religion  in  the  power  and  practice  of  iu 

(i.)As 


■M^     mswtoifi. 


Part  II.  1.    WORK   op    REDEMPTION.        £79 

(1.)  As  to  the  firft,  viz.  reformation  in  doftrine,  the  moft 
conriderable  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel  that  has  been  of  late  of  this 
kind,  has  been  in  the  empire  of  Mufcovy,  which  is  a  country 
of  vaft  extent.  The  people  of  this  country,  fo  many  of  them 
as  call  themfelves  Chriftians,  profeffed  to  be  of  the  Greek 
church  ;  but  were  barbaroufly  ignorant,  and  very  faperllitious, 
until  of  late  years.  Their  late  Emperour  Peter  the  Great,  who 
reigned  until  within  thefe  twenty  years,  fet  himfelf  to  reform 
the  people  of  his  dominions,  and  took  great  pains  to  bring  themi 
out  of  their  darknefs,  and  to  have  them  inftrufted  in  religion. 
And  to  that  end,  he  fet  up  fchools  of  learning,  and  ordered  the 
Bible  to  be  printed  in  the  language  of  the  country,  and  made  a 
law  that  every  family  fhould  keep  the  holy  fcriptures  in  their 
houfes,  and  that  every  perfon  fhould  be  able  to  read  the  fame, 
and  that  no  perfon  fhould  be  allowed  to  marry  until  they  were 
able  to  read  the  fcriptures.  He  alfo  reformed  the  churches  of 
his  country  of  many  of  their  fuperftitions,  whereby  the  religion 
'profelTed  and  praftifed  in  Mufcovy  is  much  nearer  to  that  of 
the  Proteftants  than  formerly  it  ufed  to  be.  This  emperour- 
gave  great  encouragement  to  the  exercife  of  the  Proteftant  re- 
ligion in  his  dominions.  And  lince  that  Mufcovy  has  become 
a  land  of  light,  in- comparifon  of  what  it  was  before.  Wonder- 
ful alterations  have  been  brought  about  in  the  face  of  religion 
for  the  better  within  thefe  fifty  years  paft. 

(2,)  As  to  the  fecond  kind  of  fuccefs  which  the  gofpel  has 
lately  had,  viz,  its  propagation  among  the  heathen,  I  would  take 
notice  of  three  things. 

[1 .]  The  propagation  there  has  been  of  the  gofpel  among  the 
heathen  here  in  America.  This  American  continent  on  which 
We  live,  which  is  a  very  great  part  of  the  world,  and,  together 
with  i'ts  neighbouring  feas  adjoining,  takes  up  one  fide  of  the 
globe,  was  wholly  unknown  to  all  Chriftian  nations  until  thefe 
latter  times.  It  was  not  known  that  there  was  any  fuch  part 
of  the  world,  though  it  was  very  full  of  people  :  And  therefore 
here  the  devil  had  the  people  that  inhabited  this  part  of  the 
World  as  it  were  fecure  to  himfelf,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  light 
of  the  gofpel,  and  fo  out  of  the  way  of  moleftation  in  his  do- 
minion over  them.  And  here  the  many  nations  of  Indians 
worfhipped  him  as  God  from  age  to  age,  while  the  gofpel  was 
confined  to  the  oppofite  fide  of  the  globe.  It  is  a  thing  which, 
if  I  remember  right,  I  have  fome  where  lit  of,   as  probably  fup- 

pofcd 


28o  A    HIST  CRY    OF    THE  Period  IIL 

pofed  from  iome  remaining  accounts  of  tilings,  that  the  occafion 
of  the  liril  peopling  America  was  this,  that  tlie  devil  being  a- 
larmed  and  furprifed  by  the  wonderful  fuccefs  of  the  gofpel 
which  there  was  the  firfl  three  hundred  years  after  Chrift,  and 
by  the  downfal  of  the  heathen  empire  in  the  time  of  Conftan- 
tine  ;  and  feeing  the  gofpel  fpread  fo  faft,  and  fearing  that  his 
heathcnifh  kingdom  would  be  wholly  overthrown  through  the 
world,  led  away  a  people  from  the  other  continent  into  Ameri- 
ca, that  they  might  be  quite  out  of  the  reach  of  the  gofpel,  that 
here  he  might  quietly  poffefs  them,  and  reign  over  them  as  their 
god.  It  is  what  many  writers  give  an  account  of,  that  fome  of 
the  nations  of  Indians,  w^hen  the  Europeans  firfl  came  into  A' 
merica,  had  a  tradition  among  them,  that  their  god  firft  led  them 
into  this  continent,  and  went  before  them  in  an  ark. 

Whether  this  was  fo  or  not,  yet  it  is  certain  that  the  devil 
did  here  quietly  enjoy  his  dominion  over  the  poor  nations  of 
Indians  for  many  ages.  But  in  later  times  God  has  fent  the 
gofpel  into  thefe  parts  of  the  world,  and  now  the  Chriilian 
church  is  fet  up  here  in  Newengland,  and  in  other  parts  of  A- 
merica,  where  before  had  been  nothing  but  the  groflefl  hea- 
thenifh  darknefs.  Great  part  of  America  is  now  full  of  Bibles, 
and  full  of  at  leaft  the  form  of  the  worfhip  of  the  true  God  and 
Jefus  Chrift,  where  the  name  of  Chrill  before  had  not  been 
heard  of  for  many  ages,  if  at  all.  And  though  there  has  been 
but  a  fmall  propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  the  heathen  here, 
in  comparifon  of  what  were  to  be  wifhed  for  ;  yet  there  has 
been  fomething  worthy  to  be  taken  notice  of.  There  was 
fomething  remarkable  in  the  firfl  times  of  Newengland,  and 
fomething  remarkable  has  appeared  of  late  here,  and  in  other 
parts  of  America  among  many  Indians,  of  an  inclination  to  be 
inilru6i<^  in  the  Chriftian  religion. 

And  however  imall  the  propagation  of  the  gofpel  among  the 
heathen  here  in  America  has  been  hitherto,  yet  I  think  we  may 
well  look  upon  the  difcovery  of  fo  great  a  part  of  the  world  as 
America,  and  bringing  the  gofpel  into  it,  as  one  thing  by  which 
divine  Providence  is  preparing  the  way  for  the  future  glorious 
times  of  the  church  ;  when  Satan's  kingdom  fhall  be  over- 
thrown, not  only  throughout  the  Roman  empire,  but  through- 
out the  whole  habitable  globe,  on  every  fide,  and  on  all  its  con- 
tinents. When  thofc  times  come,  then  doubtlefs  the  gofpel, 
which  is  already  brought  over  into  America,  fliall  have  glori- 
ous 


,  Part  II.  1.    WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         281 

ous  fucccfs,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  this  new  difcovercd  world 
fhall  become  fubjefts  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  as  well  as  all 
'  the  other  ends  of  the  earth  :  And  in  all  probability  Providence 
has  fo  ordered  it,  that  the  mariner's  compafs,  which  is  an  in- 
vention of  later  times,  whereby  men  are  enabled  to  fail  over  the 
wideft  ocean,  when  before  they  durft  not  venture  far  from  land, 
fhould  prove  a  preparation  for  what  God  intends  to  bring  to 
pafs  in  the  gloriou-s  times  of  the  church,  viz.  the  fending  forth 
the  gofpel  wherever  any  of  the  children  of  men  dwell,  how  far 
foever  off,  and  however  feparated  by  wide  oceans  from  thofe 
parts  of  the  world  which  are  already  Chriftianized. 

[[2.]  There  has  of  late  years  been  a  very  confiderable  prop- 
agation of  the  gofpel  among  the  heathen  in  the  dominions  of 
Mufcovy.  I  have  already  obferved  the  reformation  which, 
there  has  lately  been  among  thofe  who  are  called  Chrijiians. 
there  :  But  I  now  fpeak  of  the  heathen.  Great  part  of  the  vaft 
dominions  of  the  Emperour  of  Mufcovy  are  grofs  heathens. 
The  greater  part  of  Great  Tartary,  a  heathen  country,  has  in. 
later  times  been  brought  under  the  Mufcovite  government  ;  and 
there  have  been  of  late  great  numbers  of  thofe  heathen  who 
have  renounced  their  heathenifm,  and  have  embraced  the 
Chriftian  religion, 

[[3.]  There  has  been  lately  a  very  confiderable  propagation 
of  the  Chriftian  religion  among  the  heathen  in  the  Eaftindies  ; 
particularly^  many  in  a  country  in  the  Eaftindies  cdXl^d.  Malabar ^ 
have  been  brought  over  to  the  Chriftian  Proteftant  religion, 
chiefly  by  the  labours  of  certain  miffionaries  fent  thither  to  in- 
ftru6l  them  by  the  King  of  Denmark,  who  have  brought  over 
many  heathens  to  the  Chriftian  faith,  and  have  fet  up  fchools 
among  them,  and  a  printing  prefs  to  print  Bibles  and  other 
books  for  their  inftru6lion,  in  their  own  language,  with  great 
fuccefs. 

(3.)  The  laft  kind  of  fuccefs  which  there  has  lately  been  of 
the  gofpel,  which  I  fhall  take  notice  of,  is  the  revivals  of  the 
power  and  praftice  of  religion  which  have  lately  been.  And 
here  I  fhall  take  notice  of  but  two  inftances, 

[1.3  There  has  not  long  fince  been  a  remarkable  revival  of 
the  power  and  praftice  of  religion  in  Saxony  in  Germany, 
through  the  endeavours  of  an  eminent  divine  there,  whofe  name 
was  Auguft  Herman  Franks  profeffor  of  divinity  at  Hall  in  Sax- 
ony, who  being  a  perfon  of  eminent  charity,  the  great  work 
M  m  that 


282  A    HISTORY    OF    THE  Period  III. 

tjjat  God  wrougnt  by  him,  began  with  his  fetting  on  foot  a 
charitable  defign.  It  began  only  with  his  placing  an  alms  box 
at  his  fludy  door,  into  which  fome  poor  mites  were  thrown, 
whereby  books  were  bought  for  the  inftru£lion  of  the  poor. 
And  God  was  pleafed  fo  wonderfully  to  fmile  on  his  defign, 
and  fo  to  pour  out  a  fpirit  of  charity  on  people  there  on  that 
occafion,  that  with  their  charity  he  was  enabled  In  a  little  time 
to  ere^l;  publick  fchools  for  the  inflruftion  of  poor  children,  and 
an  orphan  houfe  for  the  fupply  and  inftruftion  of  the  poor  ;  fo 
that  at  lall  it  came  to  that,  that  near  five  hundred  children  were 
maintained  and  inftrufted  in  learning  and  piety  by  the  charity 
of  others  ;  and  the  number  continued  to  increafe  more  and  more 
for  many  years,  and  until  the  laft  account  I  have  fee n.  This 
was  accompanied  with  a  wonderful  reformation  and  revival  of 
religion,  and  a  fpirit  of  piety,  in  the  city  and  univerfity  of  Hall ; 
and  thus  it  continued.  Which  alfo  had  great  influence  in  many 
other  places  in  Germany.  Their  example  feemed  remarkably 
to  flir  up  multitudes  to  their  imitation. 

[2.]  Another  thing,  which  it  would  be  ungrateful  in  us  not 
to  take  notice  of,  is  that  remarkable  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit 
of  God  which  has  been  of  late  in  this  part  of  Newengland,  of 
which  we,  in  this  town,  have  had  fuch  a  fhare.  But  it  is  need- 
lefs  for  me  particularly  to  defcribe  it,  it  being  what  you  have  fo 
lately  been  eye  witnefles  to,  and  I  hope  multitudes  of  you  fen- 
"fible  of  the  benefit  of. 

Thus  I  have  mentioned  the  more  remarkable  inftances  of  the 
fuccefs  which  the  gofpel  has  lately  had  in  the  world. 

4.  I  proceed  now  to  the  laft  thing  that  was  propofed  to  be 
confidered  relating  to  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl's  redemption  during 
this  fpace,  viz.  what  the  ftate  of  things  is  now  in  the  world 
with  regard  to  the  church  of  Chrift,  and  the  fuccefs  of  Cbrifl^s 
purchafe.  And  this  I  would  do,  by  fhowing  how  things  are 
now  compared  with  the  firfl  times  of  the  Reformation.  And, 
,1.  I  would  fhow  wherein  the  flate  of  things  is  altered  for  the 
worfe  ;  and,  2.  How  it  is  altered  for  the  better. 

(1.)  I  would  fhow  wherein  the  flate  of  things  is  altejed  from 
what  it  was  in  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation,  for  the  worfe; 
and  it  is  fo  efpecially  in  thefe  three  refpefts. 

[^1.3  The  Reformed  church   is  much  diminlfhed.     The  Ref- 
ormation in  the  former  times  of  it,  as  was  obferved  before,  was 
luppofed  to  take  place  through  one  half  of  Chriflendom,  ex- 
cepting 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        2S3 

cepting  the  Greek  church  ;  or  that  there  were  as  many  Protef- 

tants  as  Papifts.     But  now  it   is  not   fo  ;  the  Proteftant   church 

is  much    diminifhed.     Heretofore    there  have  been  muhitudes 

of  Proteflants   in   France  ;  many  famous  Proteftant  churches 

were  all  over  that  country,  who  ufed  to  meet  together  in  fynods, ' 

and  maintain  a  very  regular  difcipline  ;  and  great   part   of  that 

kingdom  were  Proteftants.     The  Proteftant   church  of  France 

was  a  great  part  of  the  glory  of  the  Reformation.     But  now  it 

is  far  otherwife  ;  This  church  is  all  broken  to  pieces   and  fcat- 

tered.     The  Proteftant  religion  is  almoft  wholly  rooted  out  of 

that  kingdom  by  the  cruel  perfecutions  which  have  been  there, 

and  there  are  now  but  very  few  Proteftant  affemblies  in  all  that 

kingdom.     The  Proteftant  intereft  is  alio  greatly  diminifhed  in 

Germany.     There  were  feveral  fovereign  princes  there  former- 

ly  who  were  Proteftants,  whofe  fucceffors  are  now  Papifts  ;  as,  ^ 

particularly,    the   Eleftor  Palatine,  and  the  Ele6lor  of   Saxony. 

The  kingdom  of  Bohemia   was  formerly  a  Proteftant   kingdom, 

but  is   now   in  the  hands  of  the  Papifts  :   And  fo  Hungary  was 

formerly  a  Proteftant   country  ;  but  the  Proteftants   there  have 

been  greatly  reduced,  and  in   a  great  meafure   fubdued,   by   the 

perfecutions  that  have  been  there.     And  the  Proteftant  intereft 

has  no  way  remarkably  gained  ground  of  late  of  the  church  of 

Rome. 

1^2.]  Another  thing  wherein  the  ftate  of  things  is  altered  for  the 
worfe  from  what  was  in  the  former  times  of  the  Reformation,  is 
the  prevailing  of  licentioufnefs  in  principles  and  opinions. 
There  is  not  now  that  fpirit  of  orthodoxy  which  there  was 
then  :  There  is  very  little  appearance  of  zeal  for  the  myfterious 
and  fpiritual  dottrines  of  Chriftianity  ;  and  they  never  were  fo 
ridiculed,  and  had  in  contempt,  as  they  are  in  the  prefent  age  ; 
and  efpecially  in  England,  the  principal  kingdom  of  the  Refor- 
mation. In  this  kingdom,  thofe  principles,  on  which  the  pow- 
er of  godlinefs  depends,  are  in  a  great  meafure  exploded,  and 
Arianifm,  and  Socinianifm,  and  Arminianifm,  and  Deifm,  are 
the  things  which  prevail,  and  carry  almoft  all  before  them. 
And  particularly  hiftory  gives  no  account  of  any  age  wherein 
there  was  fo  great  an  apoftafy  of  thofe  who  had  been  brought 
up  under  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  to  infidelity  ;  never  was  there 
fuch  a  cafting  off  of  the  Chriftian  and  all  revealed  religion  ; 
never  any  age  wherein  was  fo  much  fcoffing  at  and  ridiculing 

the 


284  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP  THE  Period  III. 

the  gofpcl  of  Chrift,  by  thofe  who  have  been  brought  up  under 
gofpel  light,  nor  any  thing  like  it,  as  there  is  at  this  day. 

[3. J  Another  thing  wherein  things  are  altered  for  the  worfe, 
is,  that  there  is  much  lefs  of  the  prevalency  of  the  power  of 
godlinefs,  than  there  was  at  the  beginning  of  the  Reformation. 
There  was  a  glorious  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  of  God  that  ac- 
companied the  firft  Reformation,  not  only  to  convert  multitudes 
in  fo  fhort  a  time  from  Popery  to  the  true  religion,  but  to  turn 
many  to  God  and  true  godlinefs.  Religion  glorioufly  flourifhed 
in  one  country  and  another,  as  moft  remarkably  appeared  in 
thofe  times  of  terrible  perfecution,  which  have  already  been 
fpoken  of.  But  now  there  is  an  exceeding  great  decay  of  vital 
piety ;  yea,  it  feems  to  be  defpifed,  called  eyithufiafm,  zohimfy.  and 
fanatkifm,  Thofe  who  are  truly  religious,  are  commonly  looked 
upon  to  be  crackbrained,  and  befide  their  right  mind  ;  and  vice 
and  profanenefs  dreadfully  prevail,  like  a  flood  which  threatens 
to  bear  down  all  before  it. — —But  I  proceed  now  to  fhow, 

(2.)  In  what  refpeft  things  are  altered  for  the  better  from 
what  they  were  in  the  firft  Reformation. 

[[i.]  The  power  and  influence  of  the  Pope  is  much  diminifli- 
cd.  Although,  fince  the  former  times  of  the  Reformation,  he 
has  gained  ground  in  extent  of  dominion  ;  yet  he  has  loll  in 
degree  of  influence.  The  vial  which  in  the  beginning  of  the 
Reformation  was  poured  out  on  the  throne  of  the  bcafl:,  to  the 
great  diminifhing  of  his  power  and  authority  in  the  world,  has 
continued  running  ever  fince.  The  Pope,  foon  after  the  Refor- 
ination,  became  lefs  regarded  by  the  princes  of  Europe  than  he 
had  been  before  ;  and  fo  he  has  been  fmce  lefs  and  lefs.  Many 
of  the  Popifh  princes  themfelves  feem  now  to  regard  him  very 
little  more  than  they  think  will  ferve  their  own  defigns  ;  of 
which  there  have  been  feveral  remarkable  proofs  and  inllances 
of  late. 

[2.]  There  i§  far  lefs  perfecution  now  than  there  was  in  the 
firft  times  of  the  Reformation.  You  have  heard  already  how 
dreadfully  perfecution  raged  in  the  former  times  of  the  Refor- 
mation ;  and  there  is  fomething  of  it  ftill.  Some  parts  of  the 
Proteftant  church  are  at  this  day  under  perfecution,  and  fo  prob- 
ably will  Ue  until  the  day  of  the  church's  fuff^ering  and  travail 
is  at  an  end,  which  v/ill  not  be  until  the  fall  of  Antichrift.  But  it 
is  now  in  no  meafure  as  it  was  heretofore.  There  does  not 
feem  to  be  the  fame  fpirit  of  perfecution  prevailing  ;  it  is  be«. 

come 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    of    R  ED  E  M  P  T  I  O  K.        235 

come  more  out  of  fafliion  even  among  the  Popirn  princes.  The 
wickednefs  of  the  enemies  of  Chrift,  and  the  oppofition  again iT: 
his  caufe,  feem  to  run  in  another  channel.  The  humour  now 
is,  to  defpife  and  laugh  at  all  religion  ;  and  there  fccms  to  be  a 
fpirit  of  indifterency  about  it.  However,  fo  far  the  ftate  of 
things  is  better  than  it  has  been,   that   there  is   fo  much  lefs  of 

perfccution. 

[3.]  There  is  a  great  increafe  of  learning.     In  the  dark  times 
of  Popery  before  the  Reformation,  learning  was  fo  far  decayed, 
that  the  world  feemed  to  be   overrun  with  barbarous  ignorance. 
Their  very  priefls  were  many  of  them  grofsly  ignorant.    Learn- 
ing began  to  revive  with  the   Reformation,   which  was  owing 
very  much  to  the  art  of  printing,   which  was   invented   a  little 
before  the  Reformation ;  and  fince  that,    learning  has  increafed 
more  and  more,  and  at   this  day  is  undoubtedly  raifed  to  vai^.lv 
a  greater  height  than  ever  it  was  before :   And  though  no  good 
ufe  is  made  of  it  by  the  greater  part  of  learned  men,  yet  the  in- 
creafe of  learning  in  itfelf  is  a  thing  to  be  rejoiced   in,   becaufc 
it  is  a  good,  and,  if  duly  applied,   an  excellent  handmaid  to  di- 
vinity, and  is  a  talent  which,  if  God  gives  men  an  heart,  affords 
them  a  great  advantage  to  do  great  things  for  the  advancement 
of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,   and  the  good  of  the  fouls  of  men. 
That  learning  and  knowledge  fhould  greatly  increafe  before  the 
glorious  times,   feems  to  be  foretold,  Dan.  xii.  4.  "  But  thou,  O 
Daniel,  fhut  up  the  words,  and  feal  the  book,  even   to  the  time 
of  the  end  :   Many  fhall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  fhall  be 
increafed."     And  however  little  now  learning  is  applied  to  the 
advancement  of  religion  ;  yet  we  may  hope  that  the  days   arc 
approaching  wherein  God  will  make  great-ufe  of  it  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift, 

God  in  his  providence  now  feems  to  be  a£ling  over  again  the 
fame  part  which  he  did  a  little  before  Chrift  came.  The  age 
wherein  Chrift  came  into  the  world,  was  an  age  wherein  learn- 
ing greatly  prevailed,  and  was  at  a  greater  height  than  ever  it 
had  been  before  ;  and  yet  wickednefs  never  prevailed  more 
than  then.  God  was  pleafed  to  fuffer  human  learning  to  come 
to  fuch  a  height  before  he  fent  forth  the  gofpel  into  the  world, 
that  the  world  might  fee  the  infufEciency  of  all  their  own  wif- 
dom  for  the  obtaining  the  knowledge  of  God,  without  the  gof- 
pel of  Chrift,  and  the  teachings  of  his  Spirit  :  And  then,  after 
that,   in  the  wifdom  of  God,   the  v/orld  by  wifdom  knew  not 

God, 


^86  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF   THs  Period  III. 

God,  it  pleafed  God,  by  the  fooliflinefs  of  prcacKing,  to  fave 
them' that  believe.  And  when  the  gofpel  came  to  prevail  fir  ft 
without  the  help  of  man's  wifdom,  then  God  was  pleafed  to 
make  ufe  of  learning  as  an  handmaid.  So  now  learning  is  at  a 
great  height  at  this  day  in  the  world,  far  beyond  what  it  was  in 
the  age  when  Chrift  appeared  ;  and  now  the  world,  by  their 
learning  and  wifdom,  do  not  know  God  ;  and  they  feem  to 
wander  in  darknefs,  are  miferably  deluded,  ftumble  and  fall  in 
-matters  of  religion,  as  in  midnight  darknefs,  Trufting  to  their 
learning,  they  grope  in  the  day  time  as  in  the  night.  Learned 
men  are  exceedingly  divided  in  their  opinions  concerning  the 
matters  of  religion,  run  into  all  manner  of  corrupt  opinions, 
and  pernicious  and  foolifti  errors.  They  fcorn  to  fubmit  their 
reafon  to  divine  revelation,  to  believe  any  thing  that  is  above 
their  comprehenfion  ;  and  fo  being  wife  in  their  own  eyes,  they 
become  fools,  and  even  vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  turn  the 
truth  of  God  into  a  lie,  and  their  foolifti  hearts  are  darkened. 
See  Rom,  i.  21.  &c. 

But  yet,  when  God  has  fufficiently  fhown  men  the  infuffi- 
ciency  of  human  wifdom  and  learning  for  the  purpofes  of  relig- 
ion, and  when  the  appointed  time  comes  for  that  glorious  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  of  God,  when  he  will  himfelf  by  his  own 
immediate  influence  enlighten  men's  minds  ;  then  may  we  hope 
that  God  will  make  ufe  of  the  great  increafe  of  learning  as  an 
handmaid  to  religion,  as  a  means  of  the  glorious  advancement 
of  the  kingdom  of  his  Son,  Then  fhall  human  learning  be  fub- 
fervient  to  the  underftanding  of  the  fcriptures,  and  to  a  clear 
explanation  and  a  glorious  defence  of  the  doftrines  of  Chrif- 
tianity.  And  there  is  no  doubt  to  be  made  of  it,  that  God  in 
Jiis  providence  has  of  late  given  the  world  the  art  of  printing, 
and  fuch  a  great  increafe  of  learning,  to  prepare  for  what  he 
defigns  to  accomplifti  for  his  church  in  the  approaching  days  of 
its  profperity.  And  thus  the  wealth  of  the  wicked  is  laid  up 
for  the  juft,  agreeable  to  Prov.  xiii.  22. 

Having  nowr  fhown  how  the  work  of  redemption  has  been 
Carried  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  prefent  time,  before  I 
proceed  any  further,  I  would  make  fome  Application. 

X,  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  great  evidence  of 
the  truth  of  the  Chriftian  religion,  and  that  the  fcriptures  are 
the  word  of  God.    There  are  three  arguments  of  this,  which  I 

ihall 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        287 

{hall  take  notice  of,  which  may  be  drawn  from  what  has  been 
faid. 

(i.)  It  may  be  argued  from  that  violent   and  inveterate  oppo- 
fition  there  has  always  appeared  of  the  wickednefs  of  the  world 
againft  this  religion.     The   religion  that  the  church  of  God  has 
profeffed  from  the  firft  founding   of  the  church  after  the  fall  to 
this  time,  has  always  been  the  fame.     Though  the  difpenfations 
have  been  altered,  yet  the  religion  which  the  church  has  pro- 
feffed has  always,  as  to  its  effentials,  been  the  fame.     The  church 
of  God,  from  the  beginning,  has  been  one  fociety.     The  Chrif- 
tian  church  which  has  been  lince  Chrifl's  afcenfion,  is  manifefl- 
ly  the  fame  fociety  continued  with  the  church,  that  was  before 
Chrift   came.     The  Chriftian  church  is  grafted  on  their  root: 
They  are  built  on  the   fame   foundation.     The   revelation  on 
which  both  have   depended,  is  effentially  the  fame ;  For  as  the 
Chriftian  church  is  built  on  the  holy  fcriptures,  fo  was  the  Jew- 
ifh  church,  though   now   the  fcriptures  be  enlarged  by  the  ad- 
dition of  the  New  Teftament ;  but  ftill  it  is  effentially  the  fame 
revelation  with  that  which  was  given  in  the  Old  Teftament, 
only  the  fubjefts  of  divine  revelation  are  now    more    clearly 
revealed  in   the   New  Teftament  than   they  were  in  the  Old. 
But  the  fum  and  fubftance  of  both  the  Old  Teftament  and  New, 
is  Chrift  and  his  redemption.     The   religion  of  the  church  of 
Ifrael,  was  effentially  the  fame  religion  with  that  of  the  Chrif- 
tian church,   as  evidently  appears  from  what  has  been    faid. 
The  ground  work  of  the  religion  of  the   church  of  God,  both 
before  and  fince  Chrift  has  appeared,  is  the  fame  great  fcheme 
of  redemption  by  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  fo  the  church  that  was 
before  the  Ifraelitifh  church,  was  ftill  the  fame   fociety,   and  it 
was  effentially  the  fame  religion  that  was  profeffed  and  praftifed 
in  it.     Thus  it  was  from  Noah  to  Abraham,  and  thus  it  was  be- 
fore the  flood.     And  this  fociety  of  men  that  is  called  the  churchy 
has  always  been  built  on  the  foundation  of  thofe  revelations 
which  we  have  in  the  fcriptures,  which  have  always  been  ef- 
fentially the  fame,  though  gradually  increafing.     The  church 
before  the  flood,  was  built  on  the   foundation  of  thofe  revela- 
tions of  Chrift  which  were  given  to  Adam,   and  Abel,  and  E- 
noch,  of  which  we  have  an  account  in  the  former  chapters  of 
Genefis,  and  others  of  the  like  import.     The  church  after  the 
flood,  was  built  on  the  foundation  of  the  revelations  made  to 
Noah  and  Abraham,  to  Melchifedeck,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  to  Jo- 

fejph,. 


/ 


2S8    *  A    H  I  S  T  O  R.Y    or  ths  Period  HI. 

feph,  Job,  and  other  holy  men  of  whom  we  have  an  account  in 
the  i'criptureSj  or  other  revelations  that  were  to  the  fame  pur- 
pofe.  And  after  this  the  church  depended  on  the  Jcriptures 
themfelves  as  they  gradually  increafed  ;  fo  that  the  church  of 
God  has  always  been  built  on  the  foundation  of  divine  revela» 
tion,  and  always  on  thofe  revelations  that  were  effentially  the 
lame,  and  which  are  fummarily  comprehended  in  the  holy  fcrip- 
tares,  and  5ver  (ince  about  Mofes's  time  have  been  built  on  the 
icriptures  themfelves. 

So  that  the  oppolition  which  has  been  made  to  the  church  of 
God  in  all  ages,  has  alv/ays  been  again  ft  the  fame  religion,  and 
the  fame  revelation.  Now  therefore  the  violent  and  perpetual 
oppolition  that  has  ever  been  made  by  the  corruption  and  wick- 
cdnefs  of  mankind  again (l  this  church,  is  a  ftrong  argument  of 
the  truth  of  this  religion,  and  this  revelation,  upon  which  this 
church  has  always  been  built.  Contraries  are  well  argued  one 
from  another.  We  may  well  and  fafely  argue,  that  a  thing  is 
good,  according  to  the  degree  of  oppofition  in  which  it  flands 
to  evil,  or  the  degree  in  which  evil  oppofes  it,  and  is  an  enemy 
to  it.  We  may  well  argue,  that  a  thing  is  light,  by  the  great 
enmity  which  darknefs  has  to  it.  Now  it  is  evident,  by  the 
things  which  you  have  heard  concerning  the  church  of  Chrifl, 
and  that  holy  religion  of  Jefus  Chrift  which  it  has  profeded, 
that  the  wickednefs  of  the  world  has  had  a  perpetual  hatred  to 
it,vand  has  made  moft  violent  oppofition  againft  it. 

i'hat  the  church  of  God  has  always  met  with  great  oppofi- 
tion in  the  world,  none  can  deny.  This  is  plain  by  profane 
hiftory  as  far  as  that  reaches;  and  before  that,  divine  hiftory 
gives  us  the  fame  account.  The  church  of  God,  and  its  religion 
and  worfhip,  began  to  be  oppofed  in  Cain's  and  Abel's  time, 
and  was  fo  when  the  earth  was  filled  with  violence  in  Noah's 
time.  And  after  this,  how  was  the  church  oppofed  in  Egypt  ! 
and  how  was  the  church  of  ifrael  always  hated  by  the  nations 
round  about,  agreeable  to  that  in  Jer.  xii.  9.  "  Mine  heritage  is 
unto  me  as  a  fpeckled  bird,  the  birds  round  about  are  againft 
her."  And  after  the  Babylonifh  captivity,  how  was  this 
church  perfecuted  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes  and  others  !  and 
how  w^as  Chrift  perfecuted  when  he  was  on  earth!  and  how 
were  the  apoftles  and  other  Chriftians  perfecuted  by  the  Jews, 
before  the  deftru£bion  of  Jerufalem  by  the  Romans  1  How  vio- 
lent were  that  people  againft  the  church !  and  how  dreadful 

was 


Partll.  !♦     W  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.  289 

was  the  oppolition  of  the  heathen  world  againil  the  Chriflian 
church  after  this  before  Conflantine  !  How  great  was  their  fpite 
againft  the  true  religion  !  And  lince  that,  how  yet  more  vio- 
lent, and  fpiteful,  and  cruel,  has  been  the  oppofition  of  Anti- 
chrift  againft  the  church  ! 

There  is  no  other  fuch  inftance  of  oppofition.  Hiftory  gives 
no  account  of  any  other  body  of  men  that  have  been  fo  hated, 
and  fo  malicioufly  and  infatiably  purfued  and  perfecuted,  nor 
any  thing  like  it.  No  other  religion  ever  was  fo  maligned  age 
after  age.  The  nations  of  other  ppfeflions  have  enjoyed  their 
religions  in  peace  and  quietnefs,  however  they  have  differed 
from  their  neighbours.  One  nation  has  worfhipped  one  fort  of 
gods,  and  others  another,  without  molefting  or  difturbing  one 
another  about  it.  All  the  fpite  and  oppofition  has  been  agairift 
this  religion,  which  the  church  of  Chrift  has  profelTed.  All 
other  religions  have  feemed  to  fhow  an  implacable  enmity  to 
this  J  and  men  have  feemed  to  have,  from  one  age  to  another, 
fuch  a  fpite  againft  it,  that  they  have  feemed  as  though  they 
could  never  fatisfy  their  cruelty.  They  put  their  inventions 
upon  the  rack  to  find  out  torments  that  fliould  be  cruel  enough  ; 
and  yet,  after  all,  never  feemed  to  be  fatisfied.  Their  thirft  has 
never  been  fatisfied  with  blood. 

So  that  this  is  out  of  doubt,  that  this  religion,  and  thefe 
fcriptures,  have  always  been  malignantly  oppofed  in  the  world* 
The  only  queftion  that  remains  is,  ^i  What  it  is  that  has  made 
this  oppofition  ? — ^  Whether  or  not  it  has  been  good  or  bad  ? 
^  Whether  it  be  the  wickednefs  and  corruption  of  the  world, 
or  not,  that  has  done  this  ?  But  of  this  there  can  be  no  greater 
doubt  than  of  the  other,  if  we  confider  how  caufelefs  this  cruel- 
ty has  always  been,  who  the  oppofers  have  been,  and  the  man- 
ner  in  which  they  have  oppofed.  The  oppofition  has  chiefly 
been  from  heathenifm  and  Popery ;  which  things  certainly  are 
evil.  They  are  both  of  them  very  evil,  and  the  fruits  of  the 
blindnefs,  corruption,  anS  wickednefs  of  men,  as  the  very  De- 
lfts themfelves  confefs.  The  light  of  nature  fhows,  that  the 
religion  of  heathens,  confifting  in  the  worfhip  of  idols,  and  fac- 
rificing  their  children  to  them,  and  in  obfcene  and  abomina- 
ble rites  and  ceremonies,  is  wickednefs.  And  the  fuperftitions, 
and  idolatries,  and  ufurpations,  of  the  church  of  Rome,  are  no 
lefs  contrary  to  the  light  of  nature.  By  this  it  appears,  that  this 
oppofition  which  has  been  made  againft  the  church  of  God, 
N  n  has 


290  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     Oir  THE  Period  III. 

has  been  made  by  wicked  men.  And  with  regard  to  the  op- 
pofition  of  the  Jews  in  Chrift's  and  the  apoflles'  times,  it  was 
in  a  moft  corrupt  time  of  that  nation,  when  the  pebple  wert; 
generally  become  exceeding  wicked,  as  fomc  of  the  Jewifii 
writers  themfelves,  as  Jofephus  and  others,  who  lived  about 
that  time,  do  exprefsly  fay.  And  that  it  has  been  mere  wick- 
ednefs  that  has  made  this  oppofition,  is  manifeil  from  the  man- 
ner of  oppofition,  the  extreme  violence,  injuftice,  and  cruelty, 
with  which  the  church  of  GcTd  has  been  treated.  It  ftems  to 
ihow  the  hand  of  malignant  infernal  fpirits  in  it. 

Now,  ^What  reafon  can  be  aihgncd,  why  the  corruption  and 
wickednefs  of  the  world  fhould  fo  implacably  fct  itfelf  againft 
this  religion  of  Jefus  Chrift,  and  againll  the  fcriptures,  but  only 
that  they  arc  contrary  to  wickednefs,  and  confequently  are  good 
and  holy  ?•— ^i  Why  fhould  the  enemies  of  Chrift,  for  fo  many 
thoufand  years  together,  manifeft  fuch  a  mortal  hatred  of  this 
religion,  but  only  that  ft  is  the  caufe  of  God  ?  If  the  fcriptures 
bfe  not  the  word  of  God,  and  the  religion  of  the  church  of 
Chrift  be  not  the  true  religion,  then  it  muft  follow,  that  it  is  a 
ihoU  wicked  religion  ;  nothing  but  a  pack  cf  lies  and  abomina- 
ble delufions,  invented  by  the  enemies  of  God  themfelves. 
And  if  this  were  fo,  it  is  not  likely  that  the  enemies  of  God, 
and  the  wickednefs  of  the  world,  would  have  maintained  fuch 
a  perpetual  and  implacable  enmity  againft  it. 

(2.)  It  is  a  great  argument  that  the  Chriftian  church  and  its 
religion  is  from  God,  that  it  has  been  upheld  hitherto  through 
y.U  the  oppofition  and  dangers  it  has  pafTed  through.  That  th6 
church  of  God  and  the  true  religion,  which  has  been  fo  con- 
tinually and  violently  oppofed,  with  fo  many  endeavours  to 
overthrow  it,  and  \v'hich  has  (o  often  been  brought  to  the  brink 
of  ruin,  and  almoft  fwallowed  up,  through  the  greateft  part  of 
fix  thoufand  years,  has  yet  been  upheld,  docs  moft  remarkably 
fhow  the  harid  of  God  in  favour  of  the  church.  If  we  confid- 
cr  it,  it  will  appear  one  of  the  greateft  wonders  and  miracles 
that  ever  came  to  pafs.  There  is  nothing  elfe  like  it  upon  the 
face  of  the  earth.  There  is  no  other  fociety  of  men  that  has 
flood  as  the  church  has.  As  to  the  old  world,  which  was  be- 
fore the  flood,  that  was  overthrown  by  a  deluge  of  waters  ; 
but  yet  the  church  of  God  was  preferved.  Satan's  vifible  king- 
dom on  earth  was  then  once  entirely  overthrown  ;  hut  the  vifi- 
ble kingdom  of  Chrift  never  has  been  overthrown.     All  thofe 

ancient 


r^rtll.  I.     WORK    OF    REDEMPTION.        291 

ancient  human  kingdoms  and  monarchies  of  which  we  read, 
and  which  have  been  in  former  ages,  they  are  long  fince  come 
to  an  end,  Thofe  kingdoms  of  which  we  read  in  the  Old  Tef- 
tament,  of  the  Moabites,  the  Ammonites,  the  Edomites,  &c, 
they  are  all  long  ago  come  to  an  end.  Thofe  four  great  mon- 
archies of  the  world  have  been  overthrown  one  after  another. 
The  great  empire  of  proud  Babylon  was  overthrown  by  the  Per- 
iians ;  and  then  the  Perfian  empire  was  overthrown  by  the 
Greeks;  after  this  the  Grecian  empire  was  overthrown  by  th« 
Romans  ;  and,  finally,  the  Roman  empire  fell  a  facrifice  to  va- 
rious barbarous  nations.  Here  is  a  remarkable  fulfilment  of  the 
words  of  the  text  with  refpeft  to  other  things,  even  the  great- 
eft  and  moft  glorious  of  them  :  They  have  all  grown  old,  and 
have  vanifhed  away ;  *•  The  moth  has  eaten  them  up  like  a  gar- 
ment, and  the  worm  has  eaten  them  like  wool  ;"  but  yet  God's 
church  remains. 

Never  were  there  fo  many  and  fo  potent  endeavours  to  de- 
ftroy  any  thing  elfe,  as  there  has  been  to  defkroy  the  church. 
Other  kingdoms  and  focieties  of  men,  which  have  appeared  to 
be  ten  times  as  ftrong  as  the  church  of  God,  have  been  deftroy- 
ed  with  an  hundredth  part  of  the  oppofition  which  the  church 
of  God  has  met  with  :  Which  fliows,  that  it  is  God  who  has 
been  the  proteftor  of  the  church.  For  it  is  moll  plain,  that  it 
has  not  upheld  itfelf  by  its  own  flrength.  For  the  moli  part,  it 
has  been  a  very  weak  fociety.  They  have  been  a  little  flock  :  So 
they  were  of  old.  The  children  of  Ifrael  were  but  a  fmall 
handful  of  people,  in  comparifon  of  the  m^ny  who  often  fought 
their  overthrow.  And  fo  in  Chrift's  time,  and  in  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Chrillian  church  after  Chrifl's  refurreftion,  thc}' 
were  but  a  remnant :  Whereas  the  whole  multitude  of  the  Jew- 
ifh  nation  were  againft  them.  And  fo  in  the  beginning  of  the 
Gentile  church,  they  were  but  a  fmall  number  in  comparifon 
with  the  heathen,  who  fought  their  overthrow.  And  fo  in  the 
dark  times  of  Antichrift,  before  the  Reformation,  they  were 
but  a  handful  ;  and  yet  their  enemies  could  not  overthrow 
them.  And  it  has  commonly  been  fo,  that  the  enemies  of  the 
church  have  not  only  had  the  greateft  number  of  their  fide,  but 
they  have  had  the  flrength  of  their  fide  in  other  refpefts.  They 
have  commonly  had  all  the  civil  authority  of  their  fide.  So  it 
was  in  Egypt :  The  civil  authority  was  of  the  fide  of  the  E' 
gyptians,  and  the  church  were  only  their   (laves,  and  were  in 

their 


SS92  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    the  Period  III. 

their  hands  ;  and  yet  they  could  not  overthrow  them.  And  fo 
it  was  in  the  time  of  the  perfecution  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes : 
The  authority  was  all  on  the  fide  of  the  perfecutors,  and  the 
church  was  under  their  dominion  ;  and  yet  all  their  cruelty 
could  not  extirpate  it.  And  fo  it  was  afterwards  in  the  time 
of  the  heathen  Roman  government.  And  fo  it  was  in  the  time 
of  Julian  the  apoftate,  who  did  his  utmofl  to  overthrow  the 
Chriftian  church,  and  to  reftoi-e  heathenifm.  And  fo  it  has 
heen  for  the  moft  part  lince  the  rife  of  Antichrift :  For  a  great 
inany  ages,  the  civil  authority  was  all  on  tht;  fide  of  Antichrift, 
and  the  church  feemed  to  be  in  their  hands. 

And  not  only  has  the  ilrength  of  the  enemies  of  the  church 
been  greater  than  the  ftrength  of  the  church,  but  ordinarily  the 
church  has  not  ufed  what  ftrength  they  have  had  *  in  their  own 
defence,  but  have  committed  themfelves  wholly  to  God.  So  it 
was  in  the  time  of  the  Jewifh  perfecutions  before  the  deftruc- 
tion  of  Jerufalem  by  the  Romans  ;  and  fo  it  was  in  the  time  of 
the  heathen  perfecutions  before  Conftantine  ;  the  Chnftians 
did  not  only  not  rife  up  in  arms  to  defend  themfelves,  but  they 
did  not  pretend  to  make  any  forcible  refiftance  to  their  heathen 
perfecutors.  So  it  has  for  the  moft  part  been  under  the  Popifti 
perfecutions ;  and  yet  they  have  never  been  able  ,to  overthrow 
the  church  of  God ;  but  it  ftands  to  this  very  day. 

And  this  is  ftill  the  more  exceeding  wonderful,  if  we  confid- 
er  how  often  the  church  has  been  brought  to  the  brink  of  ruin, 
and  the  cafe  feemed  to  be  defperate,  and  all  hope  gone,  and  they 
feemed  to  be  fwallowed  up.  In  the  time  of  the  old  world, 
when  wickednefs  fo  prevailed,  as  that  but  one  family  was  left, 
yet  God  wonderfully  appeared,  and  overthrew  the  wicked  world 
with  a  flood,  and  preferved  his  church.  And  fo  at  the  Red 
Sea,  when  Pharaoh  and  his  hoft  thought  they  were  quite  furc 
of  their  prey ;  yet  God  appeared,  and  deftroyed  them,  and  de- 
livered his  church.  And  fo  was  it  from  time  to  time  in  the 
church  of  Ifrael,  as  has  been  fhown.  So  under  the  tenth  and 
laft  heathen  perfecution,  their  perfecutors  boafled  that  now 
they  had  done  the  bufinefs  for  the  Chriftians,  and  had  over- 
thrown the  Chriftian  church  ;  yet  in  the  midft  of  their  tri- 
umph, the  Chriftian  church  rifes  out  of  the  duft  and  prevails, 
^nd  the  heathen  empire  totally  falls  before  it.  So  when  the 
Chriftian  church  feemed  ready  to  be  fwallowed  up  by  the  Ari- 
gn  herefy ;  fo  when  Antichrift  rofe  and  prevailed,  and  all  thp 

worl4 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         293 

world  wondered  after  the  beaft,  and  the  church  for  many  hun- 
dred years  was  reduced  to  fuch  a  fmall  number,  and  feemcd  to 
be  hidden,  and  the  power  of  the  world  was  engaged  to  dedroy 
thofe  little  remainders  of  the  church  ;  yet  they  could  never  fully 
accomplilh  their  defign,  and  at  lafl  God  wonderfully  revived 
his  church  in  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  and  made  it  to  ftand 
as  it  were  on  its  feet  in  the  fight  of  its  enemies,  and  raifed  it 
out  of  their  reach.  And  fo  fince,  when  the  Popifh  powers 
have  plotted  the  overthrow  of  the  Reformed  church,  and  have 
feemed  jaft  about  to  bring  their  matters  to  a  conclufion,  and  to 
finifh  their  defign,  then  God  has  wonderfully  appeared  for  the 
deliverance  of  his  church,  as  it  was  in  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tion by  King  William.  And  fo  it  has  been  from  time  to  time  : 
Prefently  after  the  darkefl:  times  of  the  church,  God  has  made 
his  church  moft  glorioufly  to  flourifh. 

If  fuch  a  prefervation  of  the  church  of  God,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  world  hitherto,  attended  with  fuch  circumftances, 
is  not  fufficient  to  ihew  a  divine  hand  in  favour  of  it,  ^  What 
can  be  devifed  that  would  be  fufficient  ?  But  if  this  be  from 
the  divine  hand,  then  God  owns  the  church,  and  owns  her  re- 
ligion, and  owns  that  revelation  and  thofe  fcriptures  on  which 
fhe  is  built  ;  and  fo  it  will  follow,  that  their  religion  is  the  true 
religion,  or  God's  religion,  and  that  the  fcriptures,  which  they 
make  their  rule,  are  his  word. 

(3.)  We  may  draw  this  further  argument  for  the  divine  au- 
thority of  the  fcriptures  from  what  has  been  faid,  viz.  that  God 
has  fo  fulfilled  thofe  things    which   are   foretold  in   the   fcri||i- 

tures. 1  have  already  obferved,  as  1  went  along,   how  the 

prophecies  of  fcripture  were  fulfilled  ;  I  fliall  now  therefore 
fingle  out  but  two  inftanccs  of  the  fulfilment  of  fcripture 
prophecy.  . 

[1.]  One  is  in  preferving  his  church  from  being  ruined.  I 
have  jufl  now  fhown  what  an  evidence  this  is  of  the  divine  au- 
thority of  the  fcriptures  in  itfelf  confidered  :  I  now  fpeak  of  it 
as  a  fulfilment  of  fcripture  prophecy.  This  is  abundantly  fore- 
told and  promifed  in  the  fcriptures,  as  particularly  in  the  text  ; 
There  it  is  foretold,  that  other  things  fliall  fail,  other  kingdoms 
and  monarchies,  which  fet  themfelves  in  oppofition,  fhall  come 
to  nothing  :  «  The  moth  fhould  eat  them  up  like  a  garment,  and 
the  worm  fhould  eat  them  like  wool.'*  And  fo  it  has  in  fa£t 
pome  to  pafs.     But  it   is  here  foretold,  that  God's  covenant 

mercy 


294  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    of  the         Period  IIL 

jiiercy  16  his  church  fliall  continue  for  ever  ;  and  fo  it  hath 
hitherto  proved,  though  now  it  be  fo  many  ages  fince,  and 
though  the  church  has  paffed  through  fo  many  dangers.  The 
fame  is  promifed,  If.  liv.  7.  "  No  weapon  that  is  formed  again  ft 
thee,  fiiall  profper  ;  and  every  tongue  that  (hall  rife  againft 
thee  in  judgment,  thou  (halt  condemn.''  And  again,  If.  xlix. 
J  4,  15,  16.  <'  But  Zion  faid,  The  Lord  hath  forfaken  me,  and 
my  Lord  hath  forgotten  me.  ^  Can  a  woman  forget  her  fuck- 
ing child,  that  fhe  fnould  not  have  compaflion  on  the  fon  of 
her  womb  ?"  Yea,  they  may  forget,  yet  will  I  not  forget  thee. 
Behold,  I  have  graven  thee  upon  the  palms  of  my  hands  ;  thy 
walls  are  continually  before  me."  The  fame  is  promifed  again 
in  If.  lix.  21.  and  If.  xliii.  i,  2.  and  Zech.  xii,  2,  3.  So  Chrift 
promifes  the  fame,  when  he  fays,  *'  On  this  rock  will  I  build 
my  church,  and  the  gates  of  hcU  fhall  not  prevail  againft  it." 
Now  if  this  be  not  from  God,  and  the  fcriptures  be  not  the 
word  of  God,  and  the  church  of  Chrift  built  on  the  foundation 
of  this  word  be  not  of  God.  ^  How  could  the  perfons  who  fore-> 
told  this,  know  it  ?  For  if  the  church  were  ngt  of  God,  it  was 
a  very  unlikely  thing  ever  to  come  to  pafs.  For  they  foretold 
the  great  oppofition,  and  the  great  dangers,  and  alfo  foretold 
that  other  kingdoms  fhould  come  to  nought,  and  that  the  church 
fhould  often  be  almoft  fwallowcd  up,  as  it  were  eafy  to  fhoWj 
and  yet  foretold  that  the  church  fliould  remain.  Now,  ^  How 
could  they  forefee  fo  unlikely  a  thing  but  by  divine  infplration  ? 
[^2.]  The  other  remarkable  inftance  which  I  fliall  mention 
4lf  the  fulfilment  of  fcripture  prophecy,  is  in  fulfilling  what  is 
foretold  concerning  Antichrift,  a  certain  gj-eat  oppofer  of  Chrift 
and  his  kingdom.  And  the  way  that  this  Antichrift -fhould 
arife,  is  foretold,  viz.  not  among  the  heathen,  or  thofe  nations 
that  never  profeffed  Chriftianity  ;  but  that  he  fhould  arife  by 
the  apoftafy  and  falling  away  of  the  Chriftian  church  into  a 
corrupt  ftate  :  2  Thef.  ii.  3.  "  For  that  day  fhall  not  come,  ex- 
cept there  come  a  falling  away  firft,  and  that  man  of  fin  be  re- 
vealed, the  fon  of  perdition.'' And  it  is  propheued,   that 

this  Antichrift,  or  man  of  fin,  fhould  be  one,  that  fhould  fet 
himfelf  up  in  the  temple  or  vifible  church  of  God,  pretending 
to  be  vefted  with  the  power  of  God  himfelf,  as  head  of  the 
church,  as  in  the  fame  chapter,  ver.  4.  And  all  this  is  exa£lly 
come  to  pafs  In  the  church  of  Rome.  Ag<iin,  it  is  intimated, 
that  rhe  rife  of  Antichrift  fhould  be  gradual,   as  there,   verf.  7, 

«  For 


Part  II.  1.    WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         295 

<*  For  the  myftery  of  iniquity  doth  already  work  :  Only  he 
who  now  letteth,  will  let,  until  he   be  taken  out  of  the  way/' 

This  alfo  came  to  pafs. Again,  it   is    prophefied   of  fuch  a 

great  and  mighty  enemy  of  the  Chrifllan  church,  that  he  (hould 
be  a  great  prince  or  monarch  of  the  Roman  empire  :  So  he  is 
reprefented  as  an  horn  of  the  fourth  bead  in  Daniel,  or  fourth 
kingdom  or  monarchy  upon  earth,  as  the  angel  himfelf  explain^; 
it,  as  you  may  fee  of  the  little  horn  in  the  7th  chapter  of  Dan- 
iel, This  alfo  came  to  pafs.^^>  '  Yea  it  is  prophefied,  that  the 
feat  of  this  great  prince,  or  pretended  vicar  of  God,  and  head 
of  his  church,  fhould  be  in  th«  city  of  Rome  itfelf.  In  the 
i7th  chapter  of  Revelation,  it  is  faid  exprefsly,  that  the  fpirit- 
ual  whore,  or  falfe  church,  fuould  have  her  feat  on  fcvcn  mcun« 
t-ains  or  hills  :  Rev.  xvii,  9.  "  The  feven  heads  are  feven  moyn- 
tains,  on  which  the  woman  fitteth  :"  And  in  the  lall  verle  of 
the  chapter,  it  is  faid  exprefsly,  '♦  The  woman  which  thou  faw- 
clt,  is  that  great  city,  which,  reigneth  over  the  kings  of  the 
earth  ;"  which  it  is  certain  was  at  that  time  the  city  of  Rome. 
This  prophecy  alfo  has  come  to  pafs  in  the  church  of  Rome, 

Further,  it  was  prophefied,  that  this  Antichrift  fhould -reign 
over  peoples,  and  multitudes,  and  nations,  and  tongues,  Rev. 
xvii.  15,  and  that  all  the  world  fhould  wonder  after  the  -beafl. 
Rev,  xiii.  3.  This  alfo  came  to  pafs  in  the  church  of  Rome. 
It  was  foretold  that  this  Antichrift  fliould  be  eminent  and  re- 
markable for  the  fin  of  pride,  pretending  to  great-  things,  and 
affuming  very  much  fo  himfelf  :  So  in  the  forementioned  place 
in  Theffalonians,  "  That  he  fhould  exalt  himfelf  above  all  that 
is  called  God,"  or  that  is  worfhipped.'  So  Rev.  xiii.  5.  "  And 
there  was  given  unto  him  a  mouth  fpeaking  great  things,  and 
blafphemies."  Dan,  vii,  20.  the  little  horn  is  faid  to  have  a 
mouth  fpeaking  very  great  things,  and  his  look  to  be  more  (lout 
than  his  fellows.     This  alfo  came  to  pafs  in  the  Pope,  and  the 

church  of  Rome. It  was  alfo  prophefied,   that   Antichrift 

fhould  be  an  exceeding  cruel  perfecutor,  Dan.  v^i.  21.-  The 
fame  horn  made  war  with  the  faints,  and  prevailed  againft  them  : 
Rev.  xiii.  7,  "  And  it  was  given  unto  him  to  make  war  with 
the  faints,  and  to  overcome  them."  Rev.  xvii.  6.  "  And  I  favv 
the  woman  drunken  with  the  blood  of  the  faints,  and  with  tht 
blood  of  the  martyrs  of  Jefus.**  This  alfo  came  to  pafs  in  the 
church  of  Rome. — -*.It  was  foretold,  that  Ar^tichrift  {hould  ex 
eel  in  craft  and  policy  ;  Dan.  vii.  8.  "  In  this    born  were  eyer; 

like 


296  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    Of  THK  Period  III. 

like  the  eyes  of  a  man."  And  verf.  20.  «'  Even  of  that  horn 
that   had   eyes."     This  alfo    came    to   pafs    in    the    church    of 

Rome. It  was  foretold,  that  the  kings  of  Cliriftendom  fliould 

be  fubjeft  to  Antichrifl  ;  Rev,  xvii.  12,  13.  "  And  the  ten 
horns  which  thou  faweft,  are  ten  kings,  which  have  received  no 
kingdom  as  yet  ;  but  receive  power  as  kings  one  hour  with  the 
bead,  Thefe  have  one  mind,  and  fiiall  give  their  power  and 
flrength  unto  the  beail."  This  alfo  came  to  pafs  with  refpe£t 
to  the  R.omi(h  church. It  was  foretold,  that  he  fhould  per- 
form pretended  miracles  and  lying  wonders  :  2  Theff.  ii.  9. 
*'  Whofe  coming  is  after  the  working  of  Satan,  with  all  power, 
and  figns,  and  lying  wonders."  Rev.  xiii.  13,  14,  "  And  he 
doth  great  wonders,  fo  that  he  maketh  fire  come  down  from 
heaven  on  the  earth,  in  the  fight  of  men,  and  deceiveth  them 
that  dwdll  on  the  earth,  by  the  means  of  thofe  miracles  which 
he  had  power  to  do  in  the  light  of  the  bead."  This  alfo  came 
to  pafs  in  the  church  of  Rome.  Fire's  coming  down  from 
heaven,  feems  to  have  reference   to  their  excommunications, 

which  were  dreaded  like  fire  from  heaven. It  was  foretold, 

that  he  fhould  forbid  to  marry,  and  to  abllain  from  meats  ;  1 
Tim.  iv.  3.  ««  Forbidding  to  marry,  and  commanding  to  abflain 
from  meats,  which  God  hath  created  to  be  received  with  thankf- 
giving."  This  alfo  is  exaftly  fulfilled  in  the  church  of 
Rome. It  was  foretold,  that  he  fliould  be  very  rich,  and  ar- 
rive at  a  great  degree  of  earthly  fplendor  and  glory  :  Rev.  xvii. 
4.  "  And  the  woman  was  arrayed  in  purple,  and  fcarlet  colour, 
and  decked  with  gold  and  precious  flones,  and  pearls,  having  a 
golden  cup   in   her   hand."     And  fo  chap,  xviii.  7.  12,  13.  16. 

This  alfo  is  come  to  pafs  with  refpeft  to  the  church  ®f  Rome. . 

It  was  foretold,  that  he  fiiould  forbid  any  to  buy  or  fell,  but 
thofe  that  had  his  mark  ;  Rev.  xiii.  17.  <«  And  that  no  man 
might  buy  or  fell,  fave  he  that  had  the  mark,  or  the  name  of 
the  beafl,  or  the  number  of  his  name."     This  alfo  is  fulfilled  in 

the  church  of  Rome. It  was  foretold,  that  he  fhould  fell  the 

iouls  of  men.  Rev.  xviii.  1^.  where,  in  enumerating  the  articles 
of  his  jnerchandife,  the  fouls  of  men  are  mentioned  as  one.     This 

alfo  is  exactly  fulfilled  in  the  fame  church. It  was  foretold, 

that  Antichrifl  would  not  fuffer  the  bodies  of  God's  people  to 
be  put  into  graves  ;  Rev.  xi.  8,  9.  "  And  their  dead  bodies 
fliall  lie  in  the  flreet  of  the  great  city — and  they — fhall  not  fuf- 
fer their  dead  bodies  to  be  put  in  graves."     This  alfo  has  lit« 

crally 


'97 


Part  II.  1.      W  O"  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N. 

erally  come  to  pafs  with  refpeft  to  the   church  of  Rome.~ 1 

might  mention  many  other  things  which  were  foretold  of  Anti- 
chrift,  or  that  great  enemy  of  the  church  To  often  fpoken  of 
in  fcripture,  and  (how  that  they  were  fulfilled  mofl  exaftly  in 
the  Pope  and  the  church  of  Rome. 

^  How  flrong  an  argument  is  this,  that  the  fcriptures  are  the 
word  of  God  ? 

2.  But  I  come  now  to  a  fecond  injerence  ;  which  is  this  : 
From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  learn  what  the  fpirit  of  true 
Chriflians  is,  viz,  a  fpirit  of  fuffering.  Seeing  God  has  fo  or- 
dered it  in  his  providence,  that  his  church  fhould  for  fo  long  a 
time,  for  the  greater  part  of  fo  many  ages,  be  in  a  fuffering  ftate, 
yea,  and  often  in  a  ftate  of  fuch  extreme  fuffering,  we  may  con- 
clude, that  the  fpirit  of  the  true  church  is  a  fuffering  fpirit, 
otherwife  God  never  would  have  ordered  fo  much  fuffering  for 
the  church  ;  for  doubtlefs  God  accommodates  the  ffate  and  cir- 
cumftances  of  the  church  to  the  fpirit  that  he  has  given  them* 
"We  fee  by  what  has  been  faid,  how  many  and  great  fufferings 
the  Chriflian  church  for  the  mod  part  has  been  under  for  thefe 
1 700  years  :  No  wonder  therefore  that  Chrift;  fo  much  incul- 
cated upon  his  difciples,  that  it  was  neceffary,  that  if  any  would 
be  his  difciples,  "  they  muff  deny  themfelves,  and  take  up  their 
crofs  and  follow  him,'* 

And  we  may  argue,  that  the  fpirit  of  the  true  church  of 
Ghrifl  is  a  fuffering  fpirit,  by  the  fpirit  the  church  has  fhown 
and  exercifed  under  her  fufferings.  She  has  aftually,  under 
thofe  terrible  perfecutions  through  which  fhe  has  paiTed,  rather 
chofen  to  undergo  thofe  dreadful  torments,  and  to  fell  all  for 
the  pearl  of  great  price,  to  fuffer  all  that  her  bitterefl  enemies 
could  inflift,  than  to  renounce  Chrifl  and  his  religion.  Hif- 
tory  furnifhes  us  with  a  great  number  of  remarkable  inftances, 
fcts  in  view  a  great  cloud  of  witneffes.  This  abundahtly  con- 
firms the  neceffity  of  being  of  a  fpirit  to  fell  all  for  Chrift,  to 
renounce  our  own  eafe,  our  own  worldly  profit,  and  honour, 
and  our  all,  for  him,  and  for  the  gofpel. 

Let  us  inquire,  whether  we  are  of  fuch  a  fpirit,  ^  How 
docs  it  prove  upon  trial  ? — ^  Does  it  prove  in  faft  that  we  are 
willing  to  deny  ourfelves,  and  renounce  our  own  worldly  in* 
tereft,  and  to  pafs  through  the  trials  to  which  we  are  called  in 
providence  ?  Alas,  how  fmall  are  our  trials,  compared  with 
thofe  of  many  of  our  fellow  Chriftians  in  foimer  ages  !  And  I 
O  o  would 


258  A    H  i  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    the'  Period  ITT. 

would  on  this  occafion  apply  that  in  Jcr.  xii.  5.  *'  If  thou  hafl 
run  with  the  footmen,  and  they  have  wearied  thee,  then,  ^  How 
canft  thou  contend  with  horfes  ?"  If  you  have  not  been  able 
to  endure  the  light  trials  to  which  you  have  been  called  in  this 
age,  and  in  this  land,  ^  How  would  you  be  able  to  endure  the 
far  greater  trials  to  which  the  church  has  been  called  in  former 
»ges  ?  Every  true  Chriftian  has  the  fpirit  of  a  martyr,  and  would 
fuffer  as  a  martyr,  if  he  were  called  to  it  in  providence. 

3.  Hence  we  learn  what  great   reafon  we   have,   affuredly  to 
expeft  the  fulfilment  of  what  yet   remains  to  be   fulfilled  of 
things    foretold  in  fcripture.     The  fcriptures  foretel  many  great 
things  yet  to  be  fulfilled  before  the  end  of  the  world.     But 
there  feem  to  be   great  difficulties  in  the  "w^ay.     We  feem   at 
prefent  to  be  very  far  from  fuch   a  flate  as   is  foretold  in  the 
fcriptures  ;  but  we  have  abundant  reafon  to   expeft,   that  thefe 
things,  however  feemlngly  difficult,  will  yet  be  accomplifhed  in 
their  feafon.     Wejee  the  faithfulncfs  of  God   to  his   promifes 
hitherto.     How  true  has  God  been  to  his   church,   and  remem- 
bered his  mercy  from  generation  to  generation  !  \Ve  may   fay 
concerning  what  God  has  done  hitherto  for  his  church,  as  Jbfh- 
ua  faid  to  the  children  of  Ifrael,  Jolh.  xxiii.  14.  "  That  not  one 
thing  hath  failed  of  all  that  the  Lord  our  God  hath  fpoken  con- 
cerning his  church  ;"  but  ail  things  are   hitherto   come  to  pafs 
agreeable  to  the  divine  prediction.     This  fhould  (Irengthen  our 
faith  in  thofe  promifes,  and  encourage  us,  and  ftir  us  up  to  earn- 
eft  prayer  to  God  for  the  accomplifhment  of  the  great  and  glori- 
ous things  which  yet   remain  to  be  fulfilled. 

It  has  already  been  fhown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrifl*s  redemp- 
tion was  carried  on  through  various  periods  down  to  the  prefent 
time. 

j^th/y,  I  come  now  to  {how  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemp- 
tion will  be  carried  on  from  the  prefent  time,  until  Antichrift  is 

fallen,  and  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth  is  deftroyed. 

And  with  refpe6l  to  this  fpace  of  time,  we  have  nothing  to  guide 
iis  but  the  prophecies  of  fcripture.  Through  moft  of  the  time 
i^rom  the  fall  of  man  to  the  deflruftion  of  Jerufalem  by  the  Ro- 
mans, we  had  fcripture  hiftory  to  guide  us  ;  and  from  thence  to 
the  prefent  time  we  had  prophecy,  together  with  the  accomplifli- 
ment  of  it  in  providence,  as  related  in  human  hiftorles.  But 
henceforward  we  have  only  prophecy  to  guide  us.  And  here 
I  would  pafs  by  thofe  things  that  are  only  conjeClural,  or  that 

are 


Part  II.  1.    WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        t^v^ 

are  furmifed  by  fome  from  thofe  prophecies  which  are  doubtful 
in  their  interpretation,  and  fhall  infift  only  on  thofe  thinos 
which  are  more  clear  and  evident. 

We  know  not  what  particular  events  arc  to  come  to  pafs  be- 
fore that  glorious  work  of  God's  Spirit  begins,  by  which  Satan's 
kinscdom  is  to  be  overthrown.  Bv  the  confent  of  mofl  divines, 
there  are  but  few  things,  if  any  at  all.  that  are  foretold  to  be  ac- 
complished before  the  beginning  of  that  glorious  work  of  God. 
Some  think  the  flaying  of  the  witnefTes,  Rev.  xi.  7,  8.  is  not  yet 
accomplifhed.  So  divines  differ  with  refpeft  to  the  pouring  out 
of  the  i^cvcn  vials,  of  which  we  have  an  account,  Rev.  xvi.  how 
many  are  already  poured  out,  or  how  many  remain  to  be  poured 
out  ;  though  a  late  expofitor,  whom  I  have  before  mentioned 
to  you,  feems  to  make  it  very  plain  and  evident,  that  all  are  al- 
ready poured  out  but  two,  viz,  the  fixth  on  the  river  Euphrates, 
and  the  feventh  into  the  air.  But  I  will  not  now  ft  and  to  in- 
quire what  is  intended  by  the  pouring  out  of  the  fixth  vial  on 
the  river  Euphrates,  that  the  way  of  the  kings  of  the  eafl:  may 
be  prepared  ;  but  only  would  fay,  that  it  feems  to  be  fomething 
immediately  preparing  the  way  for  the  dc(lru£lion  of  the  fpirit- 
ual  Babylon,  as  the  drying  up  of  the  river  Euphrates,  which 
ran  through  the  midft  of  old  Babylon,  was  what  prepared  the 
way  of  the  kings  of  the  Medes  and  Perfians,  the  kings  of  the 
cafljto  come  in  under  the  walls,  and  deftroy  that  city. 

But  v/hatever  this  be,  it  does  not  appear  that  it  is  any  thing 
which  fhall  be  accomplifhed  before  that  work  of  God's  Spirit 
is  begun,  by  which,  as  ii  goes  on,  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on 
earth  (hall  be  utterly  overthrown.  And  therefore  I  would  pro- 
ceed direftly  to  confider  what  the  fcripture  reveals  concerning 
the  work  of  God  itfelf,  by  which  he  will  bring  about  this  great 
event,  as  being  the  next  thing  which  is  to  be  accomplifhed  that 
wc  are  certain  of  from  the  prophecies  of  fcripture. 

Arkl,  firfl,  I  would  obferve  two  things  in  general  concerning  it. 

1,  We  have  all  reafon  to  conclude  from  the  fcriptures,  that 
juft  before  this  work  of  God  begins,  it  will  be  a  very  dark  time 
with  refpe6l  to  the  interefts  of  religion  in  the  world.  It  has 
been  fo  before  thofe  glorious  revivals  of  religion  that  have  been 
hitherto.  It  was  fo  when  Chrift  came  ;  it  was  an  exceeding 
degenerate  time  among  the  Jews  :  And  fo  it  was  a  very  dark 
time  before  the  Reformation.  And  not  only  fo,  but  it  feems  to 
be  foretold  in  fcripture,  that  it  (hall  be  a  time  of  but  little  re- 
ligion. 


300  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    or  the  Period  III. 

ligion,  when  Chrifl  fliall  come  to  fet  up  his  kingdom  in  the 
world.  Thus  when  Chrift  fpake  of  his  coming,  to  encourage 
his  eleftj  who  cry  to  him  day  and  night,  in  Luke  xviii.  8.  he 
adds  this,  "  Neverthelefs,  when  the  Son  of  Man  comcth,  ^j  Shall 
he  find  faith  on  the  earth  ?"  Which  feems  to  denote  a  great 
prevalency  of  infidelity  juft  before  Chrift's  coming  to  avenge 
his  fuffering  church.  Though  Chrifl's  coming  at  the  lad  judg- 
ment is  not  here  to  be  excluded,  yet  there  feems  to  be  a  fpecial 
refped  to  his  coming  to  deliver  his  church  from  their  long  con- 
tinued fuffering  perfecuted  ftate,  which  is  accomplifhed  only 
at  his  coming  at  the  deftruftion  of  Antichrift.  That  time  that 
the  eleft  cry  to  God,  as  in  Rev.  vi.  lo.  "  ^i  How  long,  O  Load, 
holy  and  true,  doft  thou  not  judge  and  avenge  our  blood  on 
them  that  dwell  on  the  earth  ?"  and  the  time  fpoken  of  in  Rev. 
jcviii.  20.  "  Rejoice  over  her,  thou  heaven,  and  ye  holy  apoftles, 
and  prophets,  for  God  hath  avenged  yqu  on  her,"  will  then  be 
accomplifhed. 

It  is  notw  a  very  dark  time  with  refpeft  to  the  interells  of 
religion,   and  fuch  a  time  as  this  prophefied  of  in  this  place  ; 
wherein  there  is  but  a  little  faith,  and  a   great  prevailing  of  in- 
fidelity on  the  earth.     There  is  now  a  remarkable  fulfilment  of 
that  in  2  Pet.  iii.  3.  "  Knowing  this,  that  there   fhall  come   in 
the  laft  days  fcoffers,  walking  after  their  own  lufls.'*     And  fo 
Jude,  17,  18.  "But  beloved,   remember  ye   the  words  which 
were  fpoken  before  of  the  apollles  of  our    Lord  Jefus  Chrifl  ; 
how  that  they  told  you  there  fhould  be  mockers   in  the  lafl 
time,  who  fhould  walk  after  their  own  ungodly  lufls."     Wheth- 
cr  the  times  fhall  be  any  darker  flill,  or  how  much  darker,  be- 
fore the  beginning  of  this  glorious  work  of  God,  we  cannot  tell. 
2.  There  is  no  reafon  from  the  word  of  God  to   think  any 
other,  than  that  this  great  work  of  God  will  be  wrought,  though 
very  fwiftly,  yet  gradually.    As  the  children  of  Ifrael  were  grad- 
ually brought  out  of  the  Babylonifh  captivity,  firfl  one  company, 
and  then  another,  and  gradually  rebuilt  their  city  and  temple  ;  and 
as  the   heathen  Roman   empire   was   deflroyed  by  a    gradual, 
though  a  very  fwift  prevalency  of  the  gofpel  ;  fo,  though  there  are 
many  things  which  feem  to  hold  forth  as   though  the  work  of 
God  would  be  exceeding  fwift,  and  many  great  and  wonderful 
<;vents  fhould  very  fuddenly  be  brought  to  pafs,  and  fome  great 
parts  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  fhould  have  a  very  fudden  fall, 
yet  all  will  not  be  accomplifhed  at  oncp,  as  by  fome  grcal^ir»- 

clc, 


Part  ir.i.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION,        301 

clc,  as  the  rcfurreftion  of  the  dead  at  the  end  of  the  world  will 
be  all  at  once  ;  but  this  is  a  work  which  will  be  accomplifhed 
by  means,   by  the  preaching  of  the  gofpel,    and   the   ufe  of  the 
ordinary  means  of  grace,   and  To  fhall  be   gradually  brought  to 
pafs.     Some  fhall  be  converted,    and  be  the  means  of  others 
converfion.     God's  Spirit   fiiall  be  pomed  out  firfl  to  raifc  up 
inilruments,  and  then  thofe   inftruments  (hall  be  ufed  and  fuc- 
cceded.     And   doubtlefs  one   nation  fhall  be   enlightened  and 
converted  after  another,  one  falfe  religion  and  falfe  way  of  wor- 
fhip  exploded  after  another.     By  the  reprefentation  in  Dan.  ir. 
3,  4.  the  ftone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands  gradually 
grows.     So  Chrifl   teaches  us,    that  the  kingdom  of  heaven   is 
like  a  grain  of  wuftard  feed,  Matth.  xiii.  31,  32.  and  like  leav- 
en hid  in  three  meafures  of  meal,  verf.  33.     The  fame  reprefen- 
tation we  have  in  Mark  iv.  26,  27,  28.  and  in  the  vifion  of  the 

waters  of  the  fanftuary,   Ezek.  xlvii. The  fcriptures    hold 

forth  as  though  there  fhould  be  feveral  fucceffive  great  and  glo- 
rious events  by  which  this  work  fhould  be  accomplifhed.  The 
angel,  fpeakirtg  to  the  prophet  Daniel  of  thofe  glorious  times, 
mentions  two  glorious  periods,  at  the  end  of  which  glorious 
things  fhould  be  accompliftied :  Dan.  xii.  11.  "And  from  the 
time  that  the  daily  facrifice  fhall  be  taken  away,  and  the  abom- 
ination that  maketh  defolate  fet  up,  there  fhall  be  a  thoufand 
two  hundred  and  ninety  days."  But  then  he  adds  in  the  next 
verfe,  "  BlefTed  is  he  that  waiteth,  and  cometh  to  the  thoufand 
three  hundred  and  five  and  thirty  days  ;"  intimating,  that  Some- 
thing very  glorious  fhould  be  accomplifhed  at  the  end  of  the 
former  period,  but  fomething  much  more  glorious  at  the  end  of 
the  latter. 

But  I  now  proceed  to  fhow  how  this  glorious  work  fliaU  be 
accomplifhed. 

1 .  The  Spirit  of  God  fhall  be  glorioufly  poured  out  for  the 
wonderful  revival  and  propagation  of  religion.  This  great 
work  fhall  be  accomplifhed,  not  by  the  authority  of  princes, 
nor  by  the  wifdom  of  learned  men,  but  by  God's  Holy  Spirit : 
Zech.  iv.  6,  7.  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit, 
faith  the  Lord  of  hofls.  ^  Who  art  thou,  O  great  mountain  ? 
Before  Zerubbabel  thou  fhalt  become  a  plain,  and  he  fhall  bring 
forth  the  head  flone  thereof  with  fhoutings,  crying,  Grace, 
grace  unto  it."  So  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  fpeaking  of  this  great 
work  of  God,  fays,  chap,  xxxix.  29.  <«  Neither  will  I  hide  my 

face 


ao2  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  TH2  Period  III, 

face  any  more  from  them  ;  for  I  have  poured  out  my  Spirit  on 
the  houfe  of  Ifrael,  faith  the  Lord  God."  We  know  not  where 
this  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  fhall  begin,  or  whether  in  many 
places  at  once,  or  whether,  what  hath  already  been,  be  notfomc 
forerunner  and  beginning  of  it. 

This  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  when  it  is  begun, 
fhall  foon  bring  great  multitudes  to  forfake  that  vice  and  wick- 
cdnefs  which  now  fo  generally  prevails,  and  fhall  caufe  that  vi- 
tal religion,  which  is  now  fo  defpifed  and  laughed  at  in  the 
world,  to  revive.  The  work  of  converfion  fhall  break  forth, 
and  go  on  in  fuch  a  manner  as  never  has  been  hitherto  ;  agree- 
able to  that  in  Ifa,  xliv.  3,  4,  5.— —God,  by  pouring  out  his 
Holy  Spirit,  will  furnifli  men  to  be  glorious  inflruments  of  car- 
rying on  this  work  ;  will  fill  them  with  knowledge  and  wifdom, 
and  fervent  zeal  for  the  promoting  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and 
the  falvation  of  fouls,  and  propagating  the  gofpel  in  the  world. 
So  that  the  gofpel  fhall  begin  to  be  preached  with  abundantly 
greater  clearnefs  and  power  than  had  heretofore  been  :  For  this 
great  work  of  God  fhall  be  brought  to  pafs  by  the  preaching  of 
the  gofpel,  as  is  reprefented  in  Rev.  xiv.  6,  7,  8.  that  before 
Babylon  falls,  the  gofpel  fhall  be  powerfully  preached  and  prop- 
agated in  the  world. 

This  was  typified  of  old  by  the  founding  of  the  filver  trump- 
ets in  Ifrael  in  the  beginning  of  their  jubilee ;  Lev.  xxv.  9. 
*«  Then  fhalt  thou  caufe  the  trumpet  of  the  jubilee  to  found  on 
the  tenth  day  of  the  feventh  month  ;  on  the  day  of  atonement 
fhall  ye  make '  the  trumpet  found  throughout  all  your  land." 
The  glorious  times  which  are  approaching,  are  as  it  were  the 
chui"ch's  jubilee,  which  fhall  be  introduced  by  the  founding  of 
the  filver  trumpet  of  the  gofpel,  as  is  foretold  in  If.  xxvii,  13, 
"  And  it  fhall  come  to  pafs  in  that  day,  that  the  great  trumpet 
fl^all  be  blown,  and  they  fhall  come  which  were  ready  to  perifli 
in  the  land  of  AfTyria,  and  the  outcafls  of  the  land  of  Egyp^ 
and  fhall  worfhip  the  Lord  in  the  holy  mount  at  Jerufalem,'* 
And  there  fhall  be  a  glorious  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  with  this 
clear  and  powerful  preaching  of  the  gofpel,  to  make  it  fuccefs- 
ful  for  reviving,  thofe  holy  do6lrines  of  religion  which  are  now 
chiefly  ridiculed  in  the  world,  and  turning  many  from  herefy, 
and  from  Popery,  and  from  other  falfe  religion  ;  and  alfo  for 
turning  many  from  their  vice  and  profanenefi,  and  for  bringing 
vail  multitudes  favingly  home  to  Chrift. 

That 


Partll.i.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  303 

That  work  of  converfion  fhall  go  on  in  a  wonderful  manner, 
and  fpread  more  and  more.  Many  fhall  flow  together  to  the 
goodnefs  of  the  Lord,  and  fhall  come  as  i>were  in  flocks,  one 
flock  and  multitude  after  another  continually  flowing  in,  as  in 
Ka.  Ix.  4,  5.  *'  Lift  up  thine  eye  round  about,  and  fee;  all  they 
gather  themfelves  together,  they  come  to  thee  ;  thy  Ions  fhall 
come  from  far,  and  thy  daughters  fhall  be  nurfed  at  thy  fide. 
Then  thou  fhalt  fee  and  flow  together."  And  fo  verf.  8. 
<<  ^  Who  are  thefe  that  fly  as  a  cloud,  and  as  the  doves  to  their 
wmdows  ?"  And  it  being  reprefented  in  the  forementioned 
place  in  the  Revelation,  that  the  gofpel  fhall  be  preached  to  ev- 
ery tongue,  and  kindred,  and  nation,  and  people,  before  the 
fall  of  Antichrifl ;  fo  we  may  fuppofe,  that  it  will  foon  be  glo- 
rioufly  fuccefsful  to  bring  in  multitudes  from  every  nation  ;  and 
it  fhall  fpread  more  and  more  with  wonderful  fwiftnefs,  and  vafl 
numbers  fhall  fuddenly  be  brought  in  as  it  were  at  once,  as  you 
may  fee,  If.  Ixvi.  7,  8,  9, 

2,  This  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  of  God  will  not  effe£l  the 
overthrow  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom,  until  there  has  firfl  been 
a  violent  and  mighty  oppofition  made.  In  this  the  fcripture  is 
plain,  that  when  Chrifl  is  thus  glorioufly  coming  forth,  aod  the 
dcftruftion  of  Antichrifl  is  ready  at  hand,  and  Satan's  kingdom 
begins  to  totter,  and  to  appear  to  be  imminently  threatened,  the 
powers  of  the  kingdom  of  darknefs  will  rife  up,  and  mightily 
exert  themfelves  to  prevent  their.kingdom  being  overthrown. 
Thus  after  thepouring  out  the  fixth  vial,  which  was  to  dry  up 
the  river  Euphrates,  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  deflru6lion  of 
fpiritual  Babylorl',  it  is  reprefented  in  Rev,  xvi.  as  though  the 
powers  of  hell  will  be  mightily  alarmed,  and  fliould  flir  up 
themfelves  to  oppofe  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  before  the  fcventh 
and  lafl  vial  fhall  bs  poured  out,  which  flaall  give  them  a  final 
and  complete  overthrow.  We  have  an  account  of  the  pouring 
out  of  the  fixth  in  verf,  12.  And  then  upon  this,  the  beloved 
difciple  informs  us  in  the  following  verfes,  that  *•  three  unclean 
fpirits  like  frogs  fhall  go  forth  unto  the  kings  of  the  earth,  to 
gather  them  together  to  the  battle  of  the  great  day  of  God  Al- 
mighty." This  feems  to  be  the  laft  and  greateft  effort  of  Satan 
to  fave  his  kingdom  from  being  overthrown  ;  though  perhaps 
h^  may  make  as  great  towards  the  end  of  the  world  to  regain  it. 
When  the  Spirit  begins  to  be  fo  glorioufly  poured  forth,  and 
the  devil  fees  fuch  multitudes  flocking  ^D  Chrifl  in  one  nation 

and 


304  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    of    the  Period  II?. 

and  another,  and  the  foundations  of  his  kingdom  daily  under- 
mining, and  the  pillars  of  it  breaking,  and  the  whole  ready  to 
come  to  fvvift  and  fiidden  dertruftion,  it  will  greatly  alarm  all 
hell.  Satan  has  ever  had  a  dread  of  having  his  kingdom  over- 
thrown, and  he  has  been  oppofing  of  it  ever  fince  Chrift's  af- 
cenfion,  and  has  been  doing  great  works  to  fortify  his  kingdom, 
and  to  prevent  it,  ever  fmce  the  day  of  Conftantine  the.  Great, 
To  this  end  he  has  fet  up  thofe  two  mighty  kingdoms  of  Anti- 
chri{t  and  Mahomet,  and  brought  in  all  the  herefies,  and  fuper- 
ttitions,  and  corrupt  opinions,  which  there  arc  in  the  world. 
But  when  he  fees  all  begins  to  fail,  it  will  roufe  him  up  cxceed- 
ly.  If  Satan  dreaded  being  cad  out  of  the  Roman  empire,  how 
much  more  does  he  dread  being  caft  out  of  the  whole  world  ! 

It  feems  as  though  in  this  laft  great  oppofition  which  fhall  be 
made  agalnil  the  church  to  defend  the  kingdom  of  Satan,  all  the 
forces  of  A.ntichrifl,  and  Mahometanifm,  and  heathenifm,  will 
be  united  ;  all  the  forces  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  through  the 
ivhole  world  of  mankind.  And  therefore  it  is  faid,  that  "  fpirits 
of  devils  {hall  go  forth  unto  the  kings  of  the  earth,  and  of  the 
whole  world,  to  gather  them  together  to  the  battle  of  the  great 
day  of  God  Almighty."  And  thefe  fpirits  are  faid  to  come  out  of 
the  mouth  of  the  dragon,  and  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  beafl,  andout 
of  the  mouth  of  the  falfe  prophet ;  i.  e.  there  fhall  be  the  fpirit  of 
Popery,  and  the  fpirit  of  Mahometanifm,  and  the  fpirit  of  heathen- 
ifm, all  united.  By  the  beafl  is  meant  Antichrift  ;  by  the  dragon, 
in  this  book,  is  commonly  meant  the  devil,  as  he  reigns  over  his 
heathen  kingdom  ;  by  the  falfe  prophet,  in  this  book,  isfometimcs 
meant  the  Pope  and  his  clergy  :  But  here  an  eye  feems  to  be  had  to 
Mahomet,  whom  his  followers  call  the  great  prophet  of  God.  This 
will  be  as  it  were  the  dying  flruggles  of  the  old  ferpent  ;  a  bat- 
tle wherein  he  will  fight  as  one  that  is  almoft  defperate. 

We  know  not  particularly  in  what  manner  this  oppofition 
fhall  be  made.  It  is  reprefented  as  a  battle  ;  it  is  called  the.  battle 
of  the  great  day  of  God  Almighty.  There  will  be  fome  way  or  oth- 
er a  mighty  flruggle  between  Satan's  kingdom  and  the  church, 
and  probably  in  all  ways  of  oppofition  that  can  be  ;  and  doubt- 
lefs  great  oppofition  by  external  force  ;  wherein  the  princes  of 
the  world  who  arc  on  the  devil's  fide  fhall  join  hand  in  hand  : 
For  it  is  faid,  "  The  kings  of  the  earth  are  gathered  together  to 
battle,"  Rev.  xix.  19.  And  probably  withal  there  will  be  great 
oppofition  of  fubtlle  difputers  and  carnal  reafoning,  and  great 

perfccuticn 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    OF    R  ED  EMPTI  O  N.        30^ 

perfecution  in  many  places,  and  great  oppofition  by  virulent  re- 
proaches, and  alfo  great  oppofition  by  craft  and  fubtlcty.  The 
devil  now  doubtlefs  will  ply  his  (kill,  as  well  as  flrength,  to  tl)c 
utmoft.  The  devils,  and  thofe  who  belong  to  their  kingdom, 
will  every  where  be  ftirrcd  up,  and  engaged  to  make  an  united 
and  violent  oppofition  againft  this  holy  religion,  which  they  fee 
prevailing  fo  mightily  in  the  world. But, 

3.  Chrilland  his  church  fhall  in  this  battle  obtain  a  complete 
and  entire  viftory  over  their  enemies.  They  fliall  be  totally 
routed  and  overthrown  in  this  their  laft  effort.  When  the  pow- 
ers of  hell  and  earth  are  thus  fathered  together  againft  Chrilh 
and  his  armies  fhall  come  forth  againft  them  by  his  word  and 
Spirit  to  fight'  with  them,  in  how  auguft,  and  pompous,  and 
glorious  a  manner  is  this  coming  forth  of  Chrift  and  his  church 
to  this  battle  defcribed.  Rev.  xix.  11.  &c.  !  And  to  reprefent  to 
us  how  great  the  vi£lory  fheuld  be  which  they  fhould  obtain, 
and  how  mighty  the  overthrow  of  their  enemies,  it  is  faid,  verf. 
17,  &  18.  that  «'  all  the  fowls  of  heaven  are  called  together,  to 
eat  the  great  fupper  given  them,  of  the  flefh  of  kings,  and  cap- 
tains, and  mighty  men,"  &c.  and  then,  in  the  following  verfes, 
we  have  an  account  of  the  viftory  and  overthrow. 

In  this  viftory,  the  feventh  vial  fhall  be  poured  out.  It  i^ 
faid,  Rev.  xvi.  16.  of  the  great  army  that  fhould  be  gathered  to- 
gether againft  Chrift  :  "  And  he  gathered  them  together  into 
a  place  called  in  the  Hebrew  tongue,  Arviageddon  ;"  and  then  it 
is  faidj  "  And  the  feventh  angel  poured  out  his  vial  into  the 
air  ;  and  there  cai»e  a  great  voice  out  of  the  temple  of  heaven, 
from  the  throne,  faying,  It  is  done."  Now  the  bufinefs  is  done 
for  Satan  and  his  adherents.  When  this  vitlory  is  obtained, 
all  is  in  effe£l  done.  Satan's  laft  and  greateft  oppofition  is  con- 
quered ;  all  his  meafures  are  defeated  ;  the  pillars  of  his  kingdom 
broken  afunder,  and  will  fall  of  courfe.  The  devil  is  utterly 
baffled  and  confounded,  and  knows  not  what  elfe  to  do.  He 
now  fees  his  Antichriftian,  and  Mahometan,  and  heathenifh 
kingdoms  through  the  world,  all  tumbling  about  his  ears.  He 
and  his  moft  powerful  inftruments  are  taken  captive.  Now 
that  is  in  effeft  done  which  the  church  of  God  had  been  fo  long 
waiting  and  hoping  for,  and  fo  earneftly  crying  to  God  for,  fay- 
ing, "  ^How  long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true?"  now  the  time  i% 
come. 

Pp  Tkt 


^  A    PI  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OK   THE  Period  IIL 

The  angel  who  fct  his  right  foot  on  the  fea,  and  his  left  foot 
©n  the  earth,  lift  up  his  hand  to  heaven,  and  fwore  by  him  that 
liveth  for  ever  and  ever,  who  created  heaven,  and  all  things  that 
therein  are,  and  the  earth,  and  the  things  that  therein  are,  and 
the  fea,  and  the  things  which  are  therein,  that  when  the  fev- 
enth  angel  (liould  come  to  found,  the  time  fhould  be  no  longer. 
And  now  the  time  is  come  ;  now  the  feventh  trumpet  founds, 
and  the  fcventh  vial  is  poured  out,  both  together  ;  intimating, 
that  now  all  is  finifned  as  to  the  overthrow  of  Satan's  vifiblc 
l^^ingdom  on  earth.  This  vitlory  (hall  be  by  far  the  greateft 
that  ever  was  obtained  over  Satan  and  his  adherents.  By  this 
blovVj  with  which  the  ftone  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without 
hands  fliall  ftrike  the  image  of  gold,  and  filver,  and  brafs,  and 
iron,  and  clay,  it  fhall  all  be  broken  to  pieces.  This  will  be  a 
finiftiing  blow  to  the  image,  fo  that  it  fhall  become  as  the  chaff 
of  the  fummer  threfhing  floor. 

In  this  viftory  will  be  a  raoft  glorious  difplay  of  divine  pow- 
er. Chrifl  fhall  therein  appear  in  the  charafter  of  King  of 
kings,  and  Lord  of  lords,  as  in  Rev.  xix,  16.  Now  Chrill  fhall 
dafh  his  enemies,  even  the  flrongefl  and  proudell  of  them,  in 
pieces ;  as  a  potter's  veffel  (hall  they  be  broken  to  fhivers. 
ITien  fhall  ftrength  be  fhown  out  of  weaknefs,  and  Chrift  fliall 
caufe  his  church  as  it  were  to  threfli  the  mountains,  as  in  Ifa, 
xli.  15.  *'  Behold,  I  will  make  thee  a  new  fharp  threfhing  in- 
ftrument  having  teeth  :  Thou  fhalt  threfh  the  mountains,  and 
beat  them  fmall,  and  fhalt  make  the  hills  as  chaif,"  And  theii 
Ihall  be  fulfilled  that  in  If.  xlii.  13,  14,  15. 

4,  Confequent  on  this  viftory,  Satan*s  vifiblc  kingdom  on 
earth  fliall  be  deftroyed.  When  Satan  is  conquered  in  this  lafl 
battle,  the  church  of  Chrifl  will  have  eafy  work  of  it ;  as  when 
Jofhua  and  the  children  of  Ifrael  had  obtained  that  great  victo- 
ry over  the  five  kings  of  the  Amorites,  when  the  fun  flood  flill, 
and  God  fent  great  hail  (tones  on  their  enemies,  they  after  that 
v/cnt  from  one  city  to  another,  and  burnt  them  with  fire :  They 
had  eafy  work  of  fubduing  the  cities  and  country  to  which  they 
belonged.  So  it  was  alfo  after  that  other  great  battle  that 
Jofhua  had  with  that  great  multitude  at  the  waters  of  Merom, 
So  after  this  glorious  vifi:oryof  Chrifl  and  his  church  over  their 
enemies,  over  the  chief  powers  of  Satan's  kingdom,  they  fhall 
deflroy  that  kingdom  in— ali  thofe  cities  and  countries  to  which 
thc^  belonged*    After  this  the  word  of  God  fhall  have  a  fpeedy 

and 


Fart II.  1.     \V  O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  K.  30^ 

and  fwift  progrefs  through  the  earth  ;  as  it  is  faid,  that  on  the 
pouring  out  of  the  feventh  vial,  ««  the  cities  of  the  nations  fell, 
and  every  ifland  fled  away,  and  the  mountains  were  not  found,'* 
Rev.  xvi.  io,  20,  When  once  the  (lone  cut  out  of  the  moun- 
tain without  hands  had  broken  the  image  in  pieces,  it  was  eafy 
to  abolifh  all  remains  of  it.  The  very  wind  will  carry  it  away 
as  the  chaff  of  the  fummer  threfhing  floor.  Becaule  Satan's 
vifible  kingdom  on  earth  fliall  now  be  deflroyed,  therefore  it  is 
faid,  that  the  feventh  vial,  by  which  this  fliall  be  done,  fliall  be 
poured  out  into  tlie  air  ;  which  is  reprcfented  in  fcripture  as  the 
fpecial  feat  of  his  kingdom  ;  for  he  is  called  the  prince  of  the  pow- 
er of  the  air,  Eph.  ii.  2.  Now  is  come  the  time  for  punifiiing 
leviathan,  that  piercing  ferpent,  of  which  we  read  in  If.  xxvii. 
2.  "In  that  day  the  Lord  with  his  fore  and  great  and  flirong 
{"word,  fiiall  punifli  leviathan  the  piercing  ferpent,  even  levia- 
than, that  crooked  ferpent,  and  he  fliall  flay  the  dragon  that  is 
in  the  fea." 

Concerning  this  overthrow  of  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on 
earth,  I  would,  1,  Show  wherein  this  overthrow  of  Satan's  vif- 
itle  kingdom  will  chiefly  confifl:  ;  2.  The  extent  and  univerfal- 
ity  of  this  overthrow. 

1.  I  would  fliow  wherein  this  overthrow  of  Satan's  kingdom 
will  chiefly  confift.  I  fliall  mention  the  particular  things  in 
which  it  will  conflfl'.,  without  pretending  to  determine  in  what 
order  they  fliall  come  to  pafs,  or  which  fhall  be  accompliflied 
fcrfl;,  or  whether  they  fliall  be  accompliflied  together. 

(1.)  Herefies,  and  infidelity,  and  fuperfliition,  among  thofc 
who  have  been  brought  up  under  the  light  of  the  gofpel,  will 
then  be  aboliflied.  Then  there  will  be  an  end  to  Socinianifm^ 
and  Arianifn^  and  Quakerifm,  and  Arminianifm  ;  and  Deifm, 
which  is  now  fo  bold  and  confident  in  infidelity^  fliall  then  be 
cruflied,  and  driven  away,  and  vaiiifli  to  nothings,  and  all  fhall 
agree  in  the  fame  great  and  important  doftrines  of  the  gofpel; 
agreeable  to  that  in  Zech,  xiv.  9.  "  And  the  Lord  fliall  be  king 
over  all  the  earth  :  In  that  day  fliall  there  be  one  Lord,  and  his 
name  one."  Then  fliall  be  aboliflied  all  fuperfl:itious  ways  of 
worfliip,  and  all  fhall  agree  in  worfliipping  God  in  his  own 
W'ays  :  Jer.  xxxii.  39.  *'  And  I  will  give  them  one  heart,  and 
one  way,  that  they  may  fear  me  for  ever,  for  the  good  of  them, 
and  of  their  children  after  them." 

(2.)  The 


3o8  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    rn&  Period  III. 

(2.)  The  kingdom  of  Antichrift  {hall  be  utterly  overthrown. 
His  kingdom    and  dominion  has  been   much  brought  down   al- 
ready by  the  vial  poured  out  on  his  throne  in  the  Reformation  ; 
but  then  it  fhall  be  utterly  deftroyed.     Then  fiiall  be  proclaim- 
ed, "  Babylon    is  fallen,   is   fallen."     When  the  fevcnth  angel 
founds,  "  the  time,  times   and  half,  fhall   be   out,    and   the  time 
{hall  be   no  longer,"     Then    fliall  be   accomplifhed  concerning 
Antichrift  the  things  which  are  written   in  the  18th  chapter  of 
Revelation,  of  the  fpiritual  Babylon,  that  great  city  Rome,   or 
the  idolatrous   Roman  government,   that   has   for   to  many  ages 
been  the  great   enemy  of  the  Chriflian  church,  firft  under  hea- 
thenifm,  then  under  Popery  :  That  proud  city  which  lifted  her- 
felf  up   to  heaven,   and   above  God  himfelf  in   her  pride   and 
haughtinefs  ;  that   cruel,   bloody  city,   fhall  come  down   to  the 
ground.     Then   fhall    that   be   fulfilled,    If.   xxvi,  5.   *«  For  he 
bringeth  down  them  that  dwell  on  high,  the  lofty  city  he  layeth 
it  low,  he  layeth  it  low,  even  to  the  ground,  he  bringeth  it  even 
to. the  duft."     <*  She  fhall  be   thrown  down  with  violence,  like 
a  great  milKlone  caft  into   the  fea,    and  fliall  be  found  no  more 
at  all,  and  fliall  become  an  habitatior^  of  devils,  and  the  hold  of   \ 
every  foul  fpirit,  and  a  cage  of  every  unclean  and  hateful  bird." 
^ow  fball  file  be  flripped  of  all  her  glory,  and  riches,  and  or- 
naments,  and  fhall   be   caft  out  as  an    abominable  branch,  and 
^all  be  trodden  down  as  the  mire  of  the  flreets.     All  her  poli- 
cy and  craft,  in  which  {he  fo   abounded,  fhall   not  fave  her. 
And  God  fhall  make  his  people,  who  have  been  fo  perfecuted 
by  her,    to  come   and   put  their  foot  on  the  neck  of  Antichrift, 
and  he  fhall  be  their  footflool.     All  the  ftrength  and  wifdom  of 
this  great  whore  fhall    fail  her,   and  there  fliall  be  none  to  help 
her.     The  kings  of  the  earth,  who  before  gave  their  power  and 
ftrength  to  the  beafl,  fhall  now  hate  the  whore,  and  fliall  make 
her  defolate  and  naked,  and  fhall  eat  her   flefh,  and  burn  her 
with  fire,  Re^.  xvii.  16. 

(3,)  That  other  great  kingdom  which  Satan  has  fet  up  in  op- 
pofition  to  the  Chrillian  church,  viz.  his  Mahometan  kingdom, 
fhall  be  utterly  overthrown.  The  locufts  and  horfemen,  in  the 
9th  of  Revelation,  have  their  appointed  and  limited  time  fet 
them  there,  and  the  falfe  prophet  fhall  be  taken  and  deflroyed. 
^\nd  then,  though  Mahometanifm,  has  been  fo  vailly  propagat- 
ed in  the  world,  and  is  upheld  by  fuch  a  great  empire,  this 
frpokcj  y/hich  has  afcended  out  of  the  bottomlefs  pit,  fhall  be 

utterly 


Part  II.  K     WORK    OF    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  M.         ,'^69 

utterly  fcattered  before  the  light  of  that  glorious  day,  and  the 
Mahomeian  empire  fhall  fall  at  the  found  of  the  great  trumpet 
which  fhall  then  be  blown. 

(4')  Jewifli  infidelity  fhall  then  be  overthrown.     However  ob- 
flinate  thcv  have  been  now  for  above    1700  years  in  their  rejec- 
tion of  Chrift,  and  inltances  of  the  converfion  of  any  of  that  na- 
tion have  been  fo  very  rare  ever  fmce  the  defWuflion  of  Jerufa-* 
lem,    but  they  have,  againft  the  plain  teachings  of  their  own 
prophets,  continued  to  approve  of  the  cruelty  of  their  forefathers 
in  crucifying    Chrifl  ;  yet  when  this  day  comes,  the  thick  veil 
that  blinds  their  eyes    Ihall  be  removed,  2  Cor.  iii.  16  ;  and  di- 
vine grace  fhall  melt    and  renew   their  hard    hearts,  '•  and  they 
fhall  look  on  him  whom  they  have  pierced^  and  they  fhall  mourn 
for  him,  as  one  mourncth  for  his  only  fbn,  and  fhall  be  in  hit- 
ternefs,  as  one  that  is  in  bitternefs  for  his  firft  born,"'  Zcch.  niu 
10.  &c.     And   then   fliall   the  houfe  of  liVael    be  faved  :   The 
Jews  in  all   their  difperiions  fhall  caft  away  their  old  infidelity, 
and  fhall    wonderfully   have   their  hearts   changed,  and    abhor 
themfelves  for  their  pafl  unbelief  and  obftinacy  ;  and  fliall  flow 
together  to  the  blelTed  Jefus,  penitently,    humbly,   and  joyfully 
owning  him  as  their  glorious'  King  and  only  Saviour,  and  fliall 
with    all  their  hearts,   as  with  one   heart  and  Voice,  declare  hrs 
praifes  unto  other  nations. 

Nothing  is  more  certainly  foretold  than  this  national  conver. 
fion  of  the  Jews  is  in  the  11th  chapter  of  Romans.     And  there 
are  alfo  many  pafl'ages  of  the  Old  Teftament   which    cannot  be 
interpreted    in   any  other   fenfe,    which   I  cannot  now  fland  to 
mention.     Befides  the  prophecies   of  the   calling  of  the  Jews, 
we  have  a  remarkable  feal  of  the  fulfilment  of  this  great   event 
in  providence,  by  a  thing  whicii  is  a  kind  of  continual  miracle, 
viz.  their  being  preferved  a  diflinft   nation   in    fuch  a  difperfed 
condition  for    above   i6oo  years.     The   world    affords  nothing 
elfe  like  it.     There  is  undoubtedly  a  remarkable  hand  of  prov- 
idence in  it.     When  they  fhall  be  called,  then  fliall  that  ancient 
people,  that  were  alone  God's  people   for  fo  long   a  time,  be 
\  God's  people  again,  never  to  be  rejefted  more  :  They  fhall  then 
be  gathered  into  one  fold  together   with  the  Gentiles  ;  and   fo 
alfo  fhall  the  remains  of  the  ten   tribes,   wherever  they  be,    and 
though  they  have  been   rejefted  much  longer  than  the  Jews,   be 
brought  in  with  their  brethren  the   Jews.     The  prophecies  of 
Hofea  efpecially  feem  to  hold  this  forth,  that  in  the  future  glo- 
rious 


310  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP  THE  Period  III. 

rious  times  of  the  church,  both  Judah  and  Ephraim,  or  Judah 
and  the  ten  tribes,  fhall  be  brought  in  together,  and  fhall  be 
united  as  one  people,  as  they  formerly  were  under  David  and 
Solomon  ;  as  Hof.  i.  ii.  and  fo  in  the  laft  chapter  of  Hofea,  and 
ether  parts  of  his  prophecy. 

Though  we  dp  not  know  the  time  in  which  this  converfion 
of  the  nation  of  Ifrael  will  come  to  pafs  ;  yet  thus  much  we 
may  determine  by  fcripture,  that  it  will  be  before  the  glory  of 
the  Gentile  part  of  the  church  fhall  be  fully  accomplifhed  ;  be- 
caufe  it  is  laid,  that  their  coming  in  fhall  be  life  from  the  dead 
to  the  Gentiles,  Rom.  xi.  12.  15. 

(5.)  Then  fhall  alfo  Satan's  heathcnifh  kingdom  be  ovei» 
thrown.  Grofs  heathenifm  now  poffeffes  a  great  part  of  the 
earth,  and  there  are  fuppofed  to  be  more  heathens  now  in  the 
world,  than  of  all  other  profcfTions  taken  together,  Jews,  Ma- 
hometans, or  Chriftians.  But  then  the  heathen  nations  fliall 
be  enlightened  with  .the  glorious  gofpel.  There  will  be  a  won- 
derful fpirit  of  pity  towards  them,  and  zeal  for  their  inflruftion 
and  converfion  put  into  multitudes,  and  many  fhall  go  forth 
and  carry  the  gofpel  unto  them  ;  and  then  fhall  the  joyful  found 
be  heard  among  them,  and  the  Sun  of  Righteoufnefs  fhall  then 
arife  with  his  glorious  light  fhining  on  thofe  many  vaft  regions 
of  the  earth  that  have  been  covered  with  heathenifh  darkncfs 
for  many  thoufand  years,  many  of  them  doubtlefs  ever  lince  the 
times  of  Mofes  and  Abraham,  and  have  lain  thus  long  in  a  mif- 
crable  condition,  under  the  cruel  tyranny  of  the  devil,  who  has 
all  this  while  blinded  and  befooled  them,  and  domineered  over 
them,  and  made  a  prey  of  them  from  generation  to  generation. 
Now  the  glad  tidings  of  the  gofpel  fliall  found  there,  and  they 
(hall  be  brought  out  of  darknefs  into  marvellous  light. 

It  is  promifed,  that  heathenifm  fhall  thus  be  deftroyed  in 
many  places.  God  has  faid,  That  the  gods  that  have  not  made 
thefe  heavens  and  this  earth,  fhall  perilh  from  the  earth,  and 
from  under  thefe  heavens,  Jer.  x.  11.  and  that  be  will  utterly 
abolifh  idols,  If.  ii.  18. — Then  fhall  the  many  nations  of  Africa, 
the  nations  of  negroes,  and  other  heathens  who  chiefly  fill  that 
quarter  of  the  world,  who  now  feem  to  be  in  a  flate  but  little 
above  the  beads,  and  in  many  refpefts  much  below  them,  be 
enlightened  with  glorious  light,  and  delivered  from  all  their 
darknefs,  and  fhall  become  a  civil,  Ch.riflian,  underflanding,  and 
holy  people.    Then  fhall  the  vafl  continent  of  America,  which 

now 


Part  II.  1.     WORK    op   REDEMPTION.        311 

now  in  fo  great  A  part  of  it  is  covered  with  barbarous  ignorance 
and  cruelty,  be  every  where  covered  with  glorious  gcfpel  light 
and  Chriftian  love  ;  and  inftcad  of  worfliipping  the  devil,  as 
now  they  do,  they  fhall  ferve  God,  and  pralfes  (hall  be  fung 
every  where  to  the  Lord  Jcfus  Chrift,  the  bleffed  Saviour  of 
the  world.  So  may  we  expeft  it  will  be  in  that  great  and  pop- 
ulous part  of  the  world,  the  Eaftindies,  which  are  now  moftly 
inhabited  by  the  worlhippers  of  the  devil  ;  and  fo  throughout 
that  vaft  country  Great  Tartary  :  And  then  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  will  be  eftablifhed  in  thofe  continents  which  have  been 
more  lately  difcovered  towards  the  north  andfouth  poles,  where 
now  men  differ  very  little  from  the  wild  beads,  excepting  that 
they  worfhip  the  devil,  and  beafts  do  not.  The  fame  will  be 
the  cafe  with  refpe£t  to  thofe  countries  which  have  never  yet 
been  difcovered.  Thus  will  be  glorioufly  fulfilled  that  in  If, 
XXXV.  1.  *'  The  wildernefs  and  the  iolitary  place  (hall  be  glad 
for  them  :  And  the  defart  fiiail  rejoice,  and  bloffom  as  the  rofe.'* 
See  alfo  verf.  6,  7. 

2.  Having  thus  ihow.n  wherein  this  overthrow  of  Satan's  king- 
dom will  confift,  I  come  now  to  the  other  thing  to  be  obferved 
concerning  it,  viz.  its  univerfal  extent.     The  vifibh  kingdom 
of  Satan  fhall  be  overthrown,  and  the  kingdom  of  Chrifl  fet  up 
on  the  ruins  of  it,  every  where  throughout  the  whole  habitable 
globe.     Now  fhall  the  promife  made  to  Abraham  be  fulfilled, 
That  ««  in  him  and  in  his  feed  all  the  families  of  the  earth  fhall 
be  bleffed  ;"  and  Chrifl  now  fhall  become  the  defire  of  all  na- 
tions, agreeable  to  Haggai  ii.  7.     Now  the  kingdom   of  Chrifl 
fhall   in  the  mofl  ftrift  and  literal  fcnfe  be  extended  to  all  na- 
tions, and  the  whole  earth.     There  are  many  paffages  of  fcrip- 
ture  that  can  be  underftood  in  no  other  fenfe.     What   can  be 
more  univerfal  than  that  in  If.  xi,  9.  "  For  the  earth  fhall  be 
full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  th-e  fea.'* 
As  much  as  to  fay,  As  there  is  no  part  of  the  channel  or  cavity 
of  the  fea  any  where,  but  what  is  covered  with  water  ;  fo  there 
fhall  be  no  part  of  the  world  of  mankind  but  what  fhall  be  cov- 
ered with  the  knowledge  of  God,     So  it  is  foretold  in  If.  xlv. 
22.  that  all  the  ends  of  the  earth  fhall  look   to  Chrifl,   and  be 
faved.     And  to  fliow  that  the  words  are  to  be  underftood  in  the 
moft  univerfal  fenfe,  it  is  faid  in  the  next  verfe,  "  I  have  fworn 
by  myfelf,  the  word  is  gone  out  gf  my  mouth  in  righteoufnefs, 

and 


^12  A    H  I  S  T  O  R   Y    or  thk  Period  III. 

and  fliall  not  return,  that  unto  me  every  knee  fliall  bow,  ev'erv 
tongue  ill  all  Iwcar." 

-  So  the  moil  univerfal  expreflion'is  ufed,  Dan.  vii.  27.  *'  And 
the  kingdom  and  dominion,  and  the  greatnels  of  the  kingdora 
tmder  the  whole  heaven,  fkall  be  given  to  the  people  of  the 
Idints  of  the  Mod  High  God."  You  fee  the  exprcflion  includes 
aU  under  the  zohole  heaven. 

When  the  devil  was  cad  out  of  the  Roman  empire,  bccaufc 
that  was  the  highcft  and  principal  part  of  the  world,  and  the 
other  nations  that  were  left  were  low  and  mean  in  comparifon 
pf  thofe  of  that  empire,  it  was  reprefented  as  Satan's  being  caft 
out  of  heaven  to  the  earth,  Rev.  xii.  9.  but  it  is  reprefented 
.that  he  (hall,  be  cafl  out  of  the  earth  too,  and  {hut  up  in  hell, 
Rev.  XX.  1,  2,  3.—-* — This  is  the  greateft  revolution  by  far  that 
ever  came  to  pais  :  Therefore  it  is  faid  in  Rev.  xvi.  17,  18. 
That  on  the  pouring  oyt  of  the  feventh  vial,  there  was  a  great 
earthquake,  fv.ch  as  wa§  not  fince  men  were  upon  earth,  £0 
mighty  an  earthquake  and  fo  great.  And  this  is  the  third  great 
difpenfation  of  providence  which  is  in  fcrip4;ure  compared  to 
Chrifl's  coming  to  judgment.  So  it  is  in  Rev.  xvi,  15.  There, 
after  the  fixth  vial,  and  after  the  devil's  armies  were  gathered 
together  to  their  great  battle,  and  juft  before  Chrlft's  glorious 
victory  over  them,  it  is  faid,  "  Behold  I  come  quickly  ;  bleffed 
is  he  that  watcheth,  and  keepeth  his  garments."  So  it  is  called 
Chriji's  coming  in  2  Thef.  ii.  8*  Speaking  of  Antichrift,  it  is 
faid,  "  And  then  fhall  that  wicked  be  revealed,  whom  the  Lord 
fliall  confume  with  the  fpirit  of  his  mouth,  and  fhall  deftroy 
Vith  the  brightnefs  of  his  coming."  See  alfo  Dan.  vii.  13,  14. 
'  where  Chriil's  coming  to  fet  up  his  kingdom  on  earth,  and  to 
deflroy  Antichrift,  is  called  coming  zoiili  clouds  of  heaven.  And 
this  is  more  like  Chrifl's  laft  coming  to  judgment,  than  any 
of  the  preceding  difpenfations  which  are  fo  called,  on  thefe  ac- 
counts. 

(1.)  That  the  difpenfation  is  fo  much  greater  and  more  uni- 
verfal, and  fo  more  like  the  day  of  judgment,  which  refpefts  the 
uholc  world. 

(2.)  On  account  of  the  great  fplrltual  refurreflion  there  will 
be  of  the  church  of  God  accompanying  it,  more  refembling  the 
general  refurre6i:ion  at  the  end  of  the  world  than  any  other. 
This  fpiritual  refurrefilion,  is  the  refurreftion  fpoken  of  as  at- 
tended with  judgment,  Rev.  xx,  4. 

(3,)  Becaufc 


Part  II.  1.      WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        3x3 

(3.)  Becaufe  of  the  terrible  judgments  and  fearful  deftruftion 
which  fhall  now  be  executed  on  God's  enemies.  There  will 
doubtlefs  at  the  introducing  of  this  difpenfation  be  a  vifible  and 
awful  hand  of  God  againft  blafphemers,  Dcifts,  and  obftinatc 
hereticks,  and  other  enemies  of  Chrift,  terribly  dcftroyingthem, 
with  remarkable  tokens  of  wrath  and  vengeance  ;  and  efpecial- 
ly  will  this  difpenfation  be  attended  with  terrible  judgments  on. 
Antichrlil;  and  the  cruel  perfecutors  who  belong  to  the  church 
of  Rome,  fhall  in  a  moil  awful  manner  be  deflroyed  ;  which  is 
compared  to  a  cafling  of  Antichrift  into  the  burning  fiame, 
Dan.  vii.  11.  and  to  calling  him  alive  into  the  lake  that  burns 
with  lire  and  brimftone,  ReV",  xix,  20. 

Then  fhall  this  cruel  perfecuting  church  fuffer  thofe  judg- 
ments from  Godj  which  fhall  be  far  more  dreadful  than  her  cru- 
eleft  perfecutions  of  the  faints,  agreeable  to  Rev,  xviii.6j  7.— — 
The  judgments  which  God  fhall  execute  on  the  enemies  of  the 
church,  are  fo  great,  that  they  are  compared  to  God's  fending 
great  hailflones  from  heaven  upon  them,  every  one  of  the  weight 
of  a  talent,  as  it  is  faid  on  the  pouring  out  of  the  feventh  vial. 
Rev,  xvi.  21.  "And  there  fell  upon  men  a  great  hail  out  of 
heaven,  every  Hone  about  the  weight  of  a  talent  :  And  men 
blafphemed  God,  becaufe  of  the  plague  of  the  hail  ;  for  the 
plague  thereof  was  exceeding  great."  And  now  ftiall  be  that 
treading  of  the  wine  prefs  fpoken  of,  Rev.  xiv.  19,  20, 

(4.)  This  fiiall  put  an  end  to  the  church's  fuffering  ftate,  and 
fhall  be  attended  with  their  glorious  and  joyful  praifes.  The 
church's  affli£led  ftate  is  long,  being  continued,  excepting  fome 
fhort  intermiflions,  from  the  refurretlion  of  Chrift  to  this  time. 
But  now  fliall  a  final  end  be  put  to  her  fuffering  ftate.  Indeed 
after  this,  near  the  end  of  the  world,  the  church  fhall  be  greatly- 
threatened  ;  but  it  is  faid,  it  fhall  be  but  for  a  little  feafon. 
Rev.  XX.  3.  for  as  the  times  of  the  church's  reft  are  but  fhort, 
before  the  long  day  of  her  affliftions  are  at  an  end;  fo  whatever 
affliftion  flie  may  fuffer  after  this,  it  will  be  very  fhort ;  but 
otherwife  the  day  of  the  church's  affliftion  and  perfecution  fhall 
now  come  to  a  final  end.  The  fcriptures,  in  many  places, 
fpeak  of  this  time  as  the  end  of  the  fuffering  ftate  of  the  church. 
So  If.  h.  22.  God  fays  to  his  church  with  refpcft  to  this  time, 
*«  Behold,  I  have  taken  out  of  thine  hand  the.  cup  of  trembling, 
even  the  dregs  of  the  cup  of  my  fury,  thou  fhalt  no  more  drinlt 
it  again/'    Then  fhall  that  be  proclaimed  to  the  church,  If.  xl. 


314  A    H  I   S  T  Q  R  Y     OF  the  Fcnod  111. 

1,  2.  *'  Comfort  ye,  comfort  ye  my  people,  faith  your  God. 
Speak  ye  comfortably  to  Jerufalem,  and  cry  unto  her,  that  her 
warfare  is  accomplifhed,  that  her  iniquity  is  pardoned:  For  fhc 
hath  received  of  the  Lord's  hand  double  for  all  her  fins."  Alfo 
that  in  If.  liv.  8,  9.  belongs  to  this  time.  And  fo  that  in  If.  Ix. 
20.  "  The  Lord  fhall  be  thine  everlafling  light,  and  the  days  of 
thy  mourning  fhall  be  ended."  And  fo  Zeph.  ili,  15.  "  The 
Lord  hath  taken  away  thy  judgments,  he  hath  cafb  out  thine 
enemy  :  The  King  of  liVael,  even  the  Lord,  is  in  the  midfl  of 
thee  :  Thou  flialt  not  fee  evil  any  more." 

The  time  which  had  been  before  this,  had  been  the  church's 
fowing  time,  wherein  {he  fowed  in  tears  and  in  blood ;  but  now 
is  her  harveft,  wherein  fhe  will  come  again  rejoicing,   bringing 
her  fheaves  with  her.     Now  the  time  of  the  travail  of  the  wom- 
an clothed  with  the  fun  is  at  an  end :  Now  fhe  hath  brought 
forth  her  fon  ;  for  this  glorious   fetting  up   of  the  kingdom  of 
Chrift  through  the  world,  is  what  the  church  had  been  in  trav- 
ail for,  with  fuch  terrible  pangs,  for  fo  many  ages  :  If.  xxvi,  ly, 
*'  Like  as  a  woman  with  child  that   draweth  near  the  time  of 
her  delivery,  is  in  pain,  and  crieth  out  in  her  pangs  ;  fo  have  we 
been  in   thy  fight,  O  Lord."     See  If.  Ix.  20.   and  Ixi.  10,  ii. 
And  now  the  church  fhall  forget  her  forrow,  fincc  a  man  child 
is  born  into  the  world  :  Now  fucceed  her  joyful  praife  and  tri- 
umph.   Herpraifes  fhall  then  go  up  to  God  from  all  parts  of  the 
earth  ;  as  If.  xlii.  10,  11,  12.     And  praife  fhall  not  only  fill  the 
earth,  but  alfo  heaven.     The  church  on  earth,  and  the  church 
in  heaven,  fliall  both  glorioully  rejoice  and  praife  God,  as  with 
one  heart,  on  that  occafion.     Without  doubt  it   will  be  a  time 
of  very  diftinguifhed  joy  and   praife  among  the   holy  prophets 
and  apofUes,  and   the   other  faints  in  heaven  :  Rev.   xviii.  20» 
*'  Rejoice  over  her,    thou   heaven,   and  ye   holy  apoflles   and 
prophets,  for  God  hath  avenged  you  on  her."     Sec  how  univerfal 
thcfe  praifes  will  be  in  If,  xliv.  23.  "  Sing.  O  ye  heavens,  for  the 
Lord  hath  done  it :  Sh£>ut,  ye  lower  parts  of  the  earth :  Break 
forth  into  finging,  ye  mountains,  O  foreffc,  and  every  tree  there" 
in ;  For  the   Lord  hath  redeemed  Jacob,   and  glorified  himfelf 
in  Ifrael."     Sec  what  joyful  praifes  are  fung  to  God  on  this  oc- 
cafion by  the  univerfal  church  in  heaven   and  earth,  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  19th  chapter  of  Revelation. 

(5.)  This  difpenfation  is  above  all  preceding  ones  like  Chrifl's 
coming  to  judgment,  in  that  it  fo  puts  an  end  to  the  former 

/late 


Partll.  I.     W  O  R  K    OF   R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  OK.  3%^ 

ftatc  of  the  world,  and  introduces  the  cverlafling  kingdom  of 
Chrift.  Now  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  fhall  be  overthrown,  af-," 
tcr  it  had  flood  ever  fince  the  building  of  Babel ;  and  the  old 
heavens  and  the  old  earth  (hall  in  a  greater  meafure  be  palTed 
away  then  than  before,  and  the  new  heavens  and  new  earth  fct 
up  in  a  far  more  glorious  manner  than  ever  before. 

Thus  I  have  {hown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrill's  purchafe  has. 
been  carried  on  through  the  times  of  the  afflifted  ftate  of  the 
Chriftian  church,  from  Chrill's  refurreftion,  until  Antichrift  is 

fallen,  and  Satan's  vifible  kingdom  on  earth  is  overthrowh. 

Therefore  I  come  now, 

Secondly i  To  Ihow  how  the  fuccefs  of  redemption  will  be  car- 
ried on  through  that  fpace  wherein  the  Chriftian  church  fhall 
for  the  moft  part  be  in   a  ftate  of  peace  and  profperity.     And  _ 
in  order  to  this,  I  would, 

1.  Speak  of  the  profp«rous   ftate  of  the  church  through  the., 
greater  part  of  this  period, 

2.  Of  the  great  apoftafy  there  fhall  be  towards  the  clofc  of  it :  j 
How  greatly  then  the  church  ftiall  be  threatened  by  her  ene- 
mies for  a  (hort  time. 

1. 1  would  fpeak  of  the  profperous  ftate  of  the  church  through 
the  greater  part  of  this  period.     And  in  doing   this,   I  would, 
1.  Defcribe  this   profperous  ftate  of  the  church;   2.  Say  fomc-  . 
thing  of  its  duration. 

1/,  I  would  defcribe  the  profperous  ftate  the  church  {hall 
be  in. 

And,  in  the  general,  I  would  obfervc  two  things. 

1.  That  this  is  moft  properly  the  time  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  upon  earth.  Though  the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  in 
a  degree  fet  up  foon  after  Chrift's  refurreftion,  and  in  a  further 
degree  in  the  time  of  Conftantinc  ;  and  though  the  Chriftian 
church  in  all  ages  of  it  is  called  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  yet  this 
time  that  we  are  upon,  is  the  principal  time  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  upon  earth,  the  time  principally  intended  by  the  proph- 
ecies of  Daniel,  which  fpeak  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  whence 
the  Jews  took  the  name  of  the  kingdom  oj  heaven^ 

2.  Now  is  the  principal  fulfilment  of  all  the  prophecies  of 
the  Old  Teftament  which  fpeak  of  the  glorious  times  of  thegof- 
pel  which  fhall  be  in  the  latter  days.  Though  there  has  been 
a  glorious  fulfilment  of  thofe  prophecies  already,  in  the  times  of 
the  apoftles,  and  of  Conftantinc  ;  yet  the  exprcfTions  are  too 

high 


3j6  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  111. 

high  to  fuit  any  other  time  entirely,  but  that  which  is  to  fuc- 
ceed  the  fall  of  Antichriil,  This  is  mofl:  properly  the  glorious 
day  of  the  gofpel.  Other  times  are  only  forerunners  and  pre- 
paratories to  this :  Other  times  were  the  feed  time,  but  this  is 
the  harveft. rBut  more  particularly, 

(i.)  It  will  be  a  time  of  great  light  and  knowledge.  The  pref- 
ent  days  are  days  of  darknefs,  in  comparilon  of  thofe  days. 
The  light  of  that  glorious  time  fhall  be  fo  great,  that  it  is  repre- 
fented  as  though  there  {hould  then  be  no  night,  but  only 
day;  no  evening  nor  darknefs.  ,So  Zech.  xiv.  6,  7.  '=  And  it 
ihall  come  to  pafs  in  that  day,  that  the  light  fhall  not  be  clear, 
nor  dark.  But  it  fhall  be  one  day,  which  fhall  be  known  to 
the  Lord,  not  day,  nor  night :  But  it  fhall  come  to  pafs,  that  at 

evening  time  it  fhall  be  light." ^It  is  further  reprefented,  as 

though  God  would  then  give  fuch  light  to  his  church,  that  it 
fhould  fo  niuch  exceed  the  glory  of  the  light  of  the  fun  and 
iyioon,  that  they  fhould  be  afhamed  :  If.  xxiv.  23.  ''Then  the 
Tnoon  fhall  be  confounded,  and  the  fun  afnamed,  when  the 
Lord  of  hof^s  fliall  reign  in  Mount  Zion,  and  in  Jerufalem,  and 
before  his  ancients,  glorioufly." 

There  is  a  kind  of  veil  now  caft.  over  the  greater  part  of  the 
world,  which  keeps  them  in  darknefs  :  But  then  this  veil  fhall 
be  deilroyed :  If.  xxv.  7.  "And  he  will  deftroy  in  this  moun- 
tain the  face  of  the  covering  caft  over  all  people,  and  the  veil 
that  is  fpread  over  all  nations."  And  then  all  countries  and 
nations,  even  thofe  which  are  now  mofl  ignorant,  fhall  be  full 
of  light  and  knowledge.  Great  knowledge  fhall  prevail  every 
where.  It  may  be  hoped,  that  then  many  of  the  Negroes  and 
Indians  will  be  divines,  and  that  excellent  books  will  be  pub- 
lifhed  in  Africa,  in  Ethiopia,  in  Tartary,  and  other  now  the 
mofl  barbarous  countries;  and  not  only  learned  men,  but  oth- 
ers of  more  ordina^ry  education,  fhall  then  be  very  knowing  in 
religion  :  If.  xxxii,  3,  4.  "  The  eyes  of  them  that  fee,  fliall  not 
be  dim  ;  and  the  ears  of  them  that  hear,  fhall  hearken.  The 
heart  alfo  of  the  rafh  fhall  underfland  knowledge.".  Knowl- 
edge then  fhall  be  very  univerfal  among  all  forts  of  perfons ;  a- 
greeable  to  Jer.  xxxi.  34.  "  And  they  fhall  teach  no  more  every 
man  his  neighbour,  and  every  man  his  brother,  faying,  Know 
the  Lord  :  For  they  fhall  all  know  me,  from  the  leafl  of  thern 
fjjnto  the  greatefl  of  them," 

There 


PzrtlLi.      WO  R  K    OF    RE  D  S  M  PTIO  M.        317 

There  fhall  then  be  a  wonderful  unravelling  of  the  difEcultics 
in  the  do6i.rines  of  religion,  and  clearing  up  of  Teeming  incon- 
fiftencies  :  "  So  crooked  things  fliall  bemade  ftraiglit,  and  rough 
places  fhall  be  made  plain,  and  darknefs  fhall  become  light  before 
God's  people."  Difficulties  in  fcripture  fliall  then  be  cleared 
up,  and  wonderful  things  fhall  be  difcovercd  in  the  word  of 
God,  which  were  never  difcovcred  before.  The  great  difcove- 
ry  of  thofe  things  in  religion  which  had  been  before  kept  hid, 
feems  to  be  compared  to  removing  the  veil,  and  difcovering  the 
ark  of  the  teflimony  to  the  people,  which  before  uled  to  be  kept 
in  the  fecret  part  of  ihe  temple,  and  was  never  feen  by  them. 
Thus,  at  the  founding  of  the  fcvcnth  angel  when  it  is  proclaim- 
ed, "  that  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the  king- 
doms of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Chrift  ji'  it  is  added  that  "  the 
temple  of  God  was  opened  in  hea\^n  ;  and  there  was  feen 
in  his  temple  the  ark  of  his  tcftament."  So  great  (hall  be  the  in- 
creafe  of  knowledge  in  this  time,  that  heaven  fhall  be  as  it  were 
opened  to  the  church  of  God  on  earth. 

(2.}  It  fhall  be  a  time  of  great  holinefs.  Now  vital  religion 
fhall  every  where  prevail  and  reign.  Religion  faall  not  be  an 
empty  profeflion,  as  it  now  moflly  is,  but  holinefs  of  heart  and 
life  fhall  abundantly  prevail.  Thofe  times  fhall  be  an  excep- 
tion from  what  Chrifl  fays  of  the  ordinary  flate  of  the  church, 
viz.  that  there  (hall  be  but  few  faved  ;  for  now  holinefs  ihall 
become  general  :  If.  Ix.  21.  <'  Thy  people  alfo  (hall  be  all  right- 
eous." Not  that  there  will  be  none  remaining  in  a  Chriftlefs 
condition  ;  but  that  vifible  wickednefs  fhall  be  fupprefled  every 
where,  and  true  holinefs  fhall  become  general,  though  not  uni- 
verfal.  And  it  fhall  be  a  wonderful  time,  not  only  for  the  mul- 
titude of  godly  men,  but  for  eminency  of  'grace  :  If.  Ixv.  20. 
*'  There  (hall  be  no  more  thence  an  infant  of  days,  nor  an  old 
man  that  hath  not  filled  his  days  :  For  the  child  fhall  die  an  hun- 
dred years  old,  but  the  finner  being  an  hundred  years  old,  fhall 
be  accurfed,"  And  Zech.  xii.  8.  "  He  that  is  feeble  among 
them  at  that  day  fhall  be  as  David  ;  and  the  houfe  of  David 
fhall  be  as  God,  as  the  angel  of  the  Lord  before  them."  And 
holinefs  fhall  then  be  as  it  were  infcribed  on  every  thing,  on  all 
men's  common  bufinefs  and  employments,  and  the  common  uten^ 
fals  of  life  :  All  fhall  be  as  it  were  dedicated  to  God,  and  appli- 
ed to  holy  purpofes  :  Every  thing  fliall  then  be  done  to  the  glo- 
jy  of  God  :  If,  xxiii.  18.    <•  And  her  merchandife  and  her  hire 

fhall 


ari8'  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF   THE  Period  III. 

fhall  be  hoiinefs  to  the  Lord."  And  fo  Zech.  xiv.  20,  21.—— 
And  as  God's  people  then  fhall  be  eminent  in  hoiinefs  of  heart, 
{o  they  fhall  be  alfo  in  hoiinefs  of  life  and  praftice. 

(3.)  It  fhall  be  a  time  wherein  religion  fhall  in  every  refpeft 
be  uppermoft  in  the  world.  It  fhall  be  had  in  great  efteem  and 
honour.  The  faints  have  hitherto  for  the  moft  part  been  kept 
under,  and  wicked  men  have  governed.  But  now  they  will  be 
uppermofl.  The  kingdoms  fli all  be  given  into  the  hands  of  the' 
faints  of  the  "  Mofb  High  God,"  Dan.  vii.  ^7.  "  And  they 
(hall  reigri  on  earth,"  Rev.  v.  10.  "  They  fhall  live  and  reign 
with  Chrift  a  thoufand  years,"  Rev,  xx,  4.  In  that  day, 
fuch  perfons  as  are  eminent  for  trae  piety  and  religion,  fhall  be' 
chiefly  promoted  to  places  of  trufl  and  authority.  Vital  religion 
fhall  then  take  pofTefTion  of  kings'  palaces  and  thrones ;  and  thofe 
who  are  in  highefl  advancement  fhall  be  holy  men  :  If.  xlix. 
23.  "  And  kings  fhall  be  thy  nurfmg  fathers,  and  their  queens 
thy  nurfing  mothers."  Kings  fhall  employ  all  their  power,  and 
glory,  and  riches,  for  the  advancement  of  the  honour  and  glory 
of  Chrifl,  and  the  good  of  his  church  :  If.  Ix.  16.  «'  Thou  fhalt  ' 
alfo  fuck  the  milk  of  the  Gentiles,  and  fhalt  fuck  the  breafts  of 
kings."  And  the  great  men  of  the  world,  and  the  rich  mcr* 
chants,  and  others  who  have  great  wealth  and  influence,  fhall 
devote  all  to  Chrifl  and  his  church  ;  Pfal.  xlv.  12.  "The  daugh* 
tcr  of  Tyre  fhall  be  there  with  a  gift,  even  the  rich  among  the 
people  fhall  entreat  thy  favour*" 

(4.)  Thofe  will  be  times  of  great  peace  and  love.  There  fhall 
then  be  univerfal  peace  and  a  good  underflanding  among  the  na- 
tions of  the  world,  inftead  of  fuch  confulion,  wars,  and  blood- 
fhcd,  as  has  hitherto  been  from  one  age  to  another  :  If.  ii,  4. 
*'  And  he  fhall  judge  among  the  nations,  and  fhall  rebuke  many 
people  :  And  they  fhall  beat  their  fwords  into  ploughfhares,  and 
their  fpears  into  pruninghooks  :  Nation  fhall  not  lift  up  fword 
againft  nation,  neither  fhall  they  learn  war  any  more."  So  it  is 
reprefented  as  if  all  inllruments  of  war  fhould  be  deflroyed,  as 
being  become  ufelefs  :  Pfal.  xlvi.  9.  "  He  maketh  wars  to  ceafe 
unto  the  end  of  the  earth  :  He  breaketh  the  bow,  and  cutteth 
the  fpear  in  joinder  :  He  burneth  the  chariot  in  the  fire."  See  al- 
fo Zech.  ix.  10.  Then  fhall  all  nations  dwell  quietly  and  fafe- 
ly,  without  fear  of  any  enemy.  If.  xxxii.  18,  *'  And  my  peo- 
ple fhall  dwell  in  a  peaceable  habitation,  and  in  fure  dwellings 
and  in  quiet  refling  places."     Alfo  Zech.  viii.  10,  n. 

And 


Partll.i.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         319 

And  then  ihall  malice,  and  envy,  and  wratb,  and  revenge,  be 
fupprefTed  every  where,  and  peace  and  love  (hall  prevail  be- 
tween one  man  and  another  ;  which  is  moft  elegantly  fet  forth 
in  If.  xl.  6.-r^io.  Then  fhall  there  be  peace  and  love  between 
rulers  and  ruled.  Rulers  Ihall  love  their  people,  and  with  all 
tl-^eir  might  feek  their  beft  good  ;  and  the  people  love  their 
rulers,  and  ihall  joyfully  fubmit  to  them,  and  give  them  that 
honour  which  is  their  due.  And  fo  fhall  there  be  an  hap- 
py love  between  minifters  and  their  people  :  Mai,  iv.  6.  "WVnd 
he  Ihall  turn  the  heart  of  the  fathers  to  the  children,  and  the 
heart  of  the  children  to  their  fathers."  Then  fhall  flouriih  in 
an  eminent  manner  thole  Chriftian  virtues  of  meeknefs,  forgive* 
nefs,  longfuffering,  gentlenefs,  goodnefs,  brotherly  kindncfs, 
thofe  excellent  fruits  of  the  Spirit.  Men,  in  their  temper  and 
difpofition,  (hall  then  be  like  the  Lamb  of  God,  the  lovely  Je- 
fus.     The  body  fhall  be  conformed  tp  the  head. 

Then  fhall  all  the  world  be  united  in  #ne  amiable  fociety. 
All  nations,  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  on  every  hde  of  the  globe, 
ihall  then  be  knit  together  in  fweet  harmony.  All  parts  of 
God's  church  fhall  afTift  and  promote  the  fpiritual  good  of  one 
another.  A  communication  fhall  then  be  upheld  between  aU 
parts  of  the  world  to  that  end  ;  and  the  art  of  navigation,  which 
is  now  applied  fo  much  to  favour  men's  covetoiifnefs  and  pride, 
and  is  ufed  fo  much  by  wicked  debauched  men,  fhall  then  be 
confccratcd  to  God,  and  applied  to  holy  ufes,  as  we  read  in  If. 
Ix.  5.-9.  And  it  will  then  be  a  time  wherein  men  will  be 
abundant  in  exprefEng  their  love  one  to  another,  not  only  in 
words,  but  in  deeds  of  charity,  as  we  learn,  If.  xxxii.  5.  "  The 
vile  perfon  fhall  be  no  more  called  liberal,  nor  the  churl  faid  to 
be  bountiful  ;"  and,  verf.  8.  "  But  the  liberal  devifeth  liberal 
things,  and  by  liberal  things  fhall  he  fland." 

45.)  It  will  be  a  time  of  excellent  order  in  the  church  of 
Chrift.  The  true  government  and  difcipline  of  the  church  will 
then  be  fettled  and  put  into  pra6lice.  AU  the  world  fhall  then 
be  as  one  church,  one  orderly,  regular,  beautiful  fociety.  And 
as  the  body  fhall  be  one,  fo  the  members  fhall  be  in  beautiful 
proportion  to  each  other.  Then  fhall  that  be  verified  in  Pfal, 
cxxii.  3.  «  Jerufalem  is  builded  as  a  city,  that  is  compact  to- 
gether." 

(6.)  The  church  of  God  fhall  then  be  beautiful  and  glorious 
on  thcfc  accounts  ;  yea,  it  will  appear  in  pcrfeftion  of  beauty  : 

If. 


3<?o  A    H  I  S  T  O  P.  Y    OF    THE  Period  III. 

ll'.  Ix.  1.  "  Arlfe,  fhine,  for  thy  light  is  come,  and  the  glory  of 
the  Lord  is  riien  upon  thee."  If.  Ixi.  lo.  "  He  hath  covered 
mc  with  the  robe  of  righteoufnefs,  as  a  brideercom  decketh  him- 
felf  with  ornaments,  and  as  a  bride  adorneth  herfelf  with  her 
jewels."  On  thefe  forementioned  accounts,  tlie  church  will 
then  be  the  grcateft  image  of  heaven  itfelf. 

(7,)  That  will  be  a  time  of  the  greatell  temporal  profpcrity. 
Such  a  fpiritual  (late  as  we  havejuft  defcribed,  has  a  natural 
tendency  to  temporal  profperity  :  It  has  a  tendency  to  health 
and  long  life  ;  and  that  this  will  aftually  be  the  cafe,  is  evident 
by  Zech.  viii,  4.  "  Thus  faith  the  Lord  of  hofls,  There  fliall 
yet  old  men  and  old  women  dwell  in  the  ftrects  of  Jcrufalem, 
and  every  man  with  his  flaff  in  his  hand  for  very  age."  It  has 
alio  a  natural  tendency  to  procure  cafe,  quietnefs,  pleafantnefs, 
and  cheerfulnefs  of  mind,  and  alfo  wealth,  and  great  increafc  of 
children  ;  as  is  intimated  in  Zech.  viii.  5.  '<  And  the  ftreets  of 
the  city  (hall  be  full  of  boys  and  girls  playing  in  the  flreets 
thereof."— —But  further,  the  temporal  profperity  of  the  people 
of  God  will  alfo  be  promoted  by  a  remarkable  blefling  from 
hea\'en  :  If.  Ixv.  21.  "  They  {hall  build  houfes,  and  inhabit 
them  ;  and  they  fhall  plant  vineyards,  and  eat  the  fruit  of  them.*' 
And  in  Mic.  iv.  4,  "  But  they  fiiall  fit  every  man  under  his 
vine,  and  under  his  fig  tree,  and  none  fhall  make  them  afraid/* 
Zech.  viii.  12.  *'  For  the  feed  fhall  be  profperous,  the  vine 
ihall  give  her  fruit,  and  the  ground  fhall  give  her  increafe,  and 
the  heavens  ihall  give  their  dew,  and  I  will  caufe  the  remnant 
of  this  people  to  polTefs  all  thefe  things."  Sec  alfo  Jer.  xxxi, 
12,  13.  and  Amos  ii:.  13.  Yea  then  they  fhall  receive  all  manner 
cf  tokens  of  God's  prefence,  and  acceptance,  and  favour  :  Jer. 
xxxiii.  9,  "  And  it  ihall  be  to  me  a  name  of  joy,  a  praife  and 
an  honour  before  all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  which  fliall  hear 
all  the  good  that  I  do  unto  them  ;  And  they  fhall  fear  and  trem- 
ble for  all  the  goodnefs  and  for  all  the  profperity  that  I  procure 
imlo  it."  Even  the  days  of  Solomon  were  but  an  image  of 
thofe  days,  as  to  the  temporal  profperity  which  fhall  obtain  in 
them. 

(8.)  It  will  alfo  be  a  time  of  great  rejoicing  :  If.  xxxv.  10. 
"  And  the  ranfomed  of  the  Lord  fliall  return  and  come  to  Zion 
with  fongs,  and  everlafting  joy  upon  their  heads  :  They  fhall 
obtain  joy  and  gladnefs,  and  forrow  and  fighing  fliall  flee  away.'* 
Chap.  Iv,  12.  '►  For  ye  fliall  go  out  with  joy,  and  be  led   forth 

witk 


Part  II.  1,     WORKof    REDEMPTION.         -21 

with  peace  :  The  mountains  and  the  hills  ftiall  break  forth  before 
you."  Chap.  Ixvi.  11.  "  That  ye  may  fuck,  and  be  fatisfied  with 
the  breafts  of  her  confolations  :  That  ye  may  milk  out,  and  be 
delighted  with  the  abundance  of  her  glory.'*  Chap.  xii.  o. 
"  With  joy  fhall  ye  draw  water  out  of  the  wells  of  falvation,** 
Then  will  be  a  time  of  feafting.  That  will  be  the  church's  glo- 
rious wedding  day,  fo  far  as  her  wedding  with  Chrift  fhall  ever 
be  upon  earth  :  Rev,  xix.  7.  "  Let  us  be  glad  and  rejoice,  and 
give  honour  to  him ;  for  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  is  come, 
and  his  wife  hath  made  herfelf  ready.'*  Verf.  9,  "  BlefTed  are 
they  which  are  called  to  the  marriage  fupper  of  the  Lamb,'* 
But  I  come  now, 

2.dly,  To  fay  fomething  of  the  duration  of  this  ftate  of  the 
church's  profperity.  On  this  I  fhall  be  very  brief.  The  fcrip- 
tures  every  where  reprefent  it  to  be  of  long  continuance.  The 
former  intervals  of  reft  and  profperity,  as  we  before  obferved, 
are  reprefented  to  be  but  fhort ;  but  the  reprefentations  of  this 
flate  arc  quite  different :  Rev.  xx.  4.  "  And  I  faw  the  fouls  of 
them  that  were  beheaded  for  the  witnefs  of  Jefus — and  they  liv» 
cd  and  reigned  with  Chrift  a  thoufand years."  If.  Ix.  15.  "  Where- 
as thou  haft  been  forfaken  and  hated,  fo  that  no  man  went 
through  thee,  I  will  nake  thee  an  eternal  excellency,  a  joy  of 
many  generations," 

This  may  fuffice  as  to  the  profpcrous  ftate  of  the  church 
through  the  greater  part  of  the  period  from  the  deftru6lion  of 
Satan's  vifible  kingdom  in  the  world  to  Chrift's  appearing  in 
the  clouds  of  heaven  to  judgment. 

II.  I  now  come  to  fpeak  of  the  great  apoftafy  there  fhouldbe 
towards  the  clofe  of  this  period,  and  how  eminently  the  church 
Ihould  be  for  a  fhort  time  threatened  by  her  enemies.  And  this 
I  fhall  do  under  three  particulars. 

1.  A  little  before  the  end  of  the  world,  there  (hall  be  a  very 
great  apoftafy,  wherein  great  part  of  the  world  fhall  fall  away 
from  Chrift  and  his  church.  It  is  fald  in  Rev,  xx.  3.  that  Sa- 
tan fhould  be  caft  into  the  bottomlefs  pit,  and  fhut  up,  and  have 
a  feal  fet  upon  him,  that  he  fhould  deceive  the  nations  no  more 
until  the  thoufand  years  fhould  be  fulfilled  ;  and  that  after  that 
he  muft  be  loofed  out  of  his  prifon  for  a  little  feafon.  And  ac- 
cordingly we  are  told,  in  the  7th  and  8th  verfes,  that  when  the 
thoufand  years  are  expired,  Satan  fhall  be  loofed  out  of  his  prif- 
on, and  fhould  go  forth  to  deceive  the  nations,  which  arc  in  the 

R  r  four 


3'23  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     07    THE  Period  III, 

four  quarters  of  the  earth,  Gog  and  Magog.  Which  feems  to 
(how  as  though  the  apoftafy  would  be  very  gential.  The  na- 
tions of  the  four  quarters  of  the  earth  fliall  be  deceived  ;  and 
the  number  of  thofe  who  fliall  now  turn  enemies  to  Chrift  fhall 
be  vaftly  great,  as  the  army  of  Gog  and  Magog  is  reprcfentcd 
in  Ezekiel,  and  as  it  is  faid  in  Rev.  xx.  8.  that  the  number  of 
them  is  as  the  fand  of  the  fea,  and  that  they  went  up  on  the 
breadth  of  the  earth,  as  though  they  were  an  army  big  enough 
to  reach  from  one  lide  of  the  earth  to  the  other. 

Thus  after  fuch  an  happy  and  glorious  feafon,  fuch  a  long 
day  of 'light  and  holinefs,  of  love,  and  peace,  and  joy,  now  it 
Ihall  begin  again  to  be  a  dark  time.  Satan  fliall  begin  to  fet  up 
his  dominion  again  in  the  world.  This  world  fliall  again  be- 
come a  fcene  of  darknefs  and  wickednefs.  The  bottomlefs  pit 
of  hell  fliall  be  opened,  and  devils  fliall  come  up  again  out  of 
it,  and  a  dreadful  fmoke  fliall  afcend  to  darken  the  world.  And 
the  church  of  Chrift,  inftead  of  extending  to  the  utmofl;  bounds 
of  the  world,  as  it  did  before,  fliall  be  reduced  to  narrow  limits 
again.  The  world  of  mankind  being  continued  fo  long  in  a 
ftate  of  fuch  great  profperity,  fliall  now  begin  to  abufe  their 
profperity,  to  ferve  their  lufl  and  corruption.  This  we  learrj 
from  Luke  xvii.  26.  &c. 

2.  Thofe  apoftates  fliall  make  great  oppofition  to  the  church 
of  God.     The  church  fhall  feem  to  be  eminently  threatened 
with  a  fudden  and  entire  overthrow  by  them.     It  is  faid,  Satan 
fhall  gather  them  together  to  battle,  as  the  fand  on  the  feafliore  5 
and  they  went  up  on  the  breadth  of  the  earth,  and  compafled  the 
camp  of  the  faints  about,  and  the  beloved  city.     So  that  this  be- 
loved city  fliall  feem  juft  ready  to  be  fwallowed  up  by  them  s 
For  her  enemies  fliall  not  only  threaten  her,  but  fhall  aftually 
have  gathered  together  againft  her ;  and  not  only  fo,  but  fliall 
have  befieged  her,  fliall  have  compalTed  her  about  on  every  fide. 
There  is  nothing  in  the  prophecy  which  feems  to  hold  forth 
as  though  the  church   had  aftually  fallen  into  their  hands,  as 
the  church  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  Antichrift,  to  whom  it 
was  given  to  make  war  with  the  faints,  and  to  overcome  them* 
God    will   never  fuffer  this  to  be  again  after  the  fall  of  Anti- 
chrift ;  for  then  the  day  of  her  mourning  fhall  be  ended.     But 
the  church  fhall  feem  mod  eminently  threatened  with  utter  and 
fudden  deftru5li©%si 

3.  Now 


Partll.x.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  323 

3.  Now  the  ftate  of  things  will  feem  mofl  remarkably  to  call 
for  Chrift's  immediate  appearance  to  judgment.  For  then  the 
world  fhall  be  filled  with  the  mod  aggravated  wickedncfs  that 
ever  it  was.  For  much  the  greater  part  of  the  world  fhall  have 
become  vifibly  wicked  and  open  enemies  to  Chrift,  and  their 
wickednefs  fhall  be  dreadfully  aggravated  by  their  apoflafy. 
Before  the  fall  of  Antichrift,  mofl  of  the  world  was  full  of  vif- 
ibly wicked  men.  But*  the  greater  part  of  thefe  are  poor  hea- 
thens, who  never  enjoyed  the  light  of  the  goipel  -,  and  others 
are  thofe  that  have  been  bred  up  in  the  Mahometan  or  Popifh 
darknefs.  But  thefe  are  thofe  that  have  apoflatiled  from  the 
Chriftian  church,  and  the  vifible  kingdom  of  Chrifl,  in  which 
they  enjoyed  the  great  light  and  privileges  of  the  glorious  times 
of  the  church,  which  fhall  be  incomparably  greater  than  the 
light  and  privileges  which  the  church  of  God  enjoys  now.  This 
apoftafy  will  be  mod  like  the  apoftafy  of  the  devils  of  any  that 
ever  had  before  been  :  For  the  devils  anoflatifed,  and  turned 
enemies  to  Chrift,  though  they  enjoyed  the  light  of  heaven; 
and  thefe  will  apoftatife,  and  turn  enemies  to  him,  though  they 
have  enjoyed  the  light  and  privileges  of  the  glorious  times  of 
the  church.  That  fuch  fhould  turn  open  and  avowed  enemies 
to  Chrift,  and  fhould  feek  the  ruin  of  his  church,  will  cry 
aloud  for  fuch  immediate  vengeance  as  was  executed  on  the 
devils  when  they  fell. 

The  wickednefs  of  the  world  will  remarkably  call  for  Chrift's 
immediate  appearing  in  flaming  fire  to  take  vengeance  on  them, 
becaufe  of  the  way  in  which  they  fliall  manifeft  their  wicked- 
nefs, which  will  be  by  fcoffing  and  blafpheming  Chrift  and  his 
holy  religion  ;  and  particularly,  they  will  feoff  at  the  notion  of 
Chrift's  coming  to  judgment,  of  which  the  church  fhall  be  in 
expeftation,  and  of  which  they  will  warn  them.  For  now 
doubtlefs  will  be  another  fulfilment,  and  the  greateft  fulfilment, 
of  2  Pet.  iii.  3,  4.  "  Knowing  this  firft,  that  there  fhall  come  in 
the  laft  days  fcoffers,  walking  after  their  own  lufts,  and  faying, 
^  Where  is  the  promife  of  his  coming  ?  For  fince  the  fathers 
fell  afleep,  all  things  continue  as  they  were  from  the  beginning 
of  the  creation."  They  fhall  be  in  no  expeftation  of  the  com- 
ing of  Chrift  to  judgment,  and  fhall  laugh  at  the  notion.  They 
fhall  trample  all  fuch  things  under  foot,  and  fliall  give  up  them- 
felves  to  their  lufts,  or  to  eat  and  drink,  and  wallow  in  fenfual 
delights,  as  though  they  were  to  be  here   for  ever.     They  fhall 

dcfpife 


g24  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE         Period  III. 

defpirc  the  warnings  the  church  fhall  give  them  of  the  coming 
of  Chrift  to  judgment,  as  the  people  of  the  old  world  defpifed 
what  Noah  told  them  of  the  approaching  flood,  and  as  the  peo- 
ple of  Sodom  did  when  Lot  faid  to  them,  "  The  Lord  will  de- 
flroy  this  city,"  Their  wickednefs  on  this  account  will  cry 
aloud  to  heaven  for  Chrifl's  appearing  in  flaming  fire  to  take 
vengeance  of  his  enemies  ;  and  alfo  becaufe  another  way  that 
they  ihaii  exercife  their  wickednefs  will  be  in  the  wicked  de- 
fign  and  Violent  attempt  they  fhall  be  engaged  in  againft  the 
holy  city  of  God,  againft  that  holy  city,  wherein  lately,  and  for 
fo  long  a  time,  fo  much  of  the  religion  of  Chrift  had  been  ieen. 
They  fhall  then  be  about  to  perpetrate  the  moft  horrid  defigu 
againft  this  church. 

And  the  numeroufnefs  of  the  wicked  that  fhall  then  be,  ii 
another  thing  which  fhall  efpecially  call  for  Chrift's  coming  : 
For  the  world  will  doubtlefs  then  be  exceeding  full  of  people, 
having  continued  fo  long  in  fo  great  a  ftate  of  profperity,  with- 
out fuch  terrible  defolating  extremities,  as  wars,  peftilences,  and 
the  like,  to  diminifh  them.  And  the  moft  of  this  world,  which 
fhall  be  fo  populous,  will  be  fuch  wicked  contemptuous  apof- 
tates  from  God.  Undoubtedly  that  will  be  a  day  wherein  the 
world  will  be  by  far  fuller  of  wickednefs  than  ever  before  it 
was  from  the  foundation  of  it.  And  if  the  wickednefs  of  the 
old  world,  when  men  began  to  multiply  on  the  earth,  called  for 
the  deftru6lion  of  the  world  by  a  deluge  of  waters,  this  wicked- 
nefs will  as  much  call  for  its  deftruftion  by  a  deluge  of  fire. 

Again,  the  circumftances  of  the  church  at  that  day  will  alfo 
eminently  call  for  the  immediate  appearing  of  Chrift,  as  they 
will  be  cornpafTed  about  by  their  blafphemous  murderous  ene- 
mies, juft  ready  to  be  fwallowed  up  by  them.  And  it  will  be  a 
moft  diftreiling  time  with  the  church,  excepting  the  comfort 
they  will  have  in  the  hope  of  deliverance  from  God;  For  all 
other  help  will  feem  to  fail.  The  cafe  will  be  come  to  the  laft 
extremity,  and  there  will  be  an  immediate  need  that  Chrift 
fhould  come  to  their  deliverance.  And  though  the  church  fhall 
be  fo  eminently  threatened,  yet  fo  will  Providence  order  it,  that 
it  fhall  be  preferved  until  Chrift  fhall  appear  in  his  immediate 
prefence,  coming  in  the  glory  of  his  Father  with  all  his  holy 
angels.  And  then  will  come  the  time  when  all  the  ele£l  fhall 
be  gathered  in.  That  work  of  converfion  which  has  been  car- 
ried on  from  the  beginning  of  the  church  after  the  fall  through 

all 


Part  II. 2.     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.         355 

all  thore  ages,  fhall  be  carried  on  no  more.  Th^e  never  ihaU 
another  foul  be  converted.  Every  one  of  thofe  m^rry  millions, 
wliofe  names  were  written  in  the  book  of  life  before  the  foun- 
dation of  the  world,  {hall  be  brought  in  ;  not  one  foul  fnall  be 
loit.  And  the  myftical  body  of  Chrift,  Vv^hich  has  been  grow- 
ing ftnce  it  £rft  began  in  the  days  of  Adam,  will  be  complete 
as  to  number  of  parts,  having  every  one  of  its  members.  In 
this  refpe£tj  the  work  of  redemption  will  novv-  be  finifhed.  And 
now  the  end  for  which  the  means  of  grace  have  been  inftitutc4 
fhall  be  obtained.  All  that  effeft  which  was  intended  to  be  ac- 
compliflied  by  them  fnall  now  be  accomplifhed. 

Sedion    II. 

THUS  I  have  fhown  how  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  redemptioti 
has  been  accompliflied  during  the  continuance  of  the  Chrul;ian 
church  under  the  means  of  grace.  We  have  feen  what  great 
revolutions  there  have  been,  and  are  to  be,  during  this  fpace  of 
time  ;  how  the  great  wheels  of  providence  have  gone  round  for 
the  accomplifhment  of  that  kind  of  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe, 
which  confifls  in  the  bellowment  of  grace  on  the  eleft  :  And 
we  are,  in  the  profecution  of  the  fubjeft,  come  to  the  tims 
when  all  the  wheels  have  gone  round  ;  the  courfc  of  things  in 
this  {late  of  it  is  {ini{hed,  and  all  things  are  ripe  for  Chrifl's 
coming  to  judgment. 

You  may  remember,  that  when  I  began  to  difcourfe  of  this 
third  proportion,  viz.  That  from  the  refurreftion  of  Chri{l  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  the  whole  time  is  taken  up  in  procuring 
the  fuccefs  and  effeft  of  Chrift's  purchafe  of  redemption,  I  ob- 
ferved,  that  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  is  of  two  kinds, 
confifting  either  in  grace  or  glory  ;  and  that  the  fuccefs  confift- 
ing  in  the  former  of  thefe,  is  to  be  feen  in  thofe  works  of  God 
which,  are  wrought  during  thofe  ages  that  the  church  is  contin- 
ued under  the  means  of  grace  ;  and  that  the  fuccefs,  con{ifting 
in  the  latter,  will  chiefly  be  accomplilhed  at  the  day  of  judg- 
ment. 

Having  already  fhown  how  the  former  kind  of  fuccefs  has 
been  accomplifhed,  I  come  now,  in  the  fecond  place,  to  the 
latter,  viz.  that  kind  of  fuccefs  which  is  accomplilhed  in  the  be- 
llowment of  glory  on  the  church,  which  fhall  chiefly  be  beftow- 

ed  on  the  church  at  the  day  of  judgment. And  here  I  would 

mention 


326  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF    the  Period  III. 

mention  two  or  three  things  in  the  general  concerning  this  kind 
of  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe. 

1.  How  great  the  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  is,  chiefly  ap- 
pears in  this.  The  fuccefs  of  Chrift's  purchafe  does  fummarily 
coofift  in  the  falvation  of  the  elcft.  But  this  bcftowment  of 
glory  is  eminently  called  their  falvation  :  Heb.  ix.  28,  "  To  them 
that  look  for  him,  fhall  he  appear  the  fecond  time,  without  fm 
unto  falvation." — —So  it  is  called  redemption^  being  eminently 
that  wherein  the  redemption  of  the  church  confifts.  So  in 
Eph.  iv.  30.  "  Sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemption  ;"  and  Luke 
;>cxi.  28.  and  Eph.  i.  14.  "  Redemption  of  the  purchafed  pof- 
Jcffion." 

2.  All  that  is  before  this,  while  the  church  is  under  the 
means  of  grace,  is  only  to  make  way  for  the  fuccefs  which  is 
to  be  accomplifhed  in  the  beftowment  of  glory.  The  means  of 
grace  are  to  fit  for  glory  ;  and  God's  grace  itfelf  is  bellowed  on 
the  eleft  to  make  them  meet  for  gloiy. 

3.  All  thofe  glorious  things  which  were  brought  to  pafs  for 
the  church  while  under  the  means  of  grace,  are  but  images  and 
fhadows  of  this.  So  were  thofe  glorious  things  which  were  ac- 
complifiied  for  the  church  in  the  ciaysof  Conftantine  the  Great; 
and  fo  is  all  that  glory  which  is  to  be  accomplifhed  in  the  glo- 
rious times  of  the  church  which  are  to  fuccced  the  fall  of  Anti- 
chrift.  As  great  as  it  is,  it  is  all  but  a  fhadow  of  what  will  be 
beftowed  at  the  day  of  judgment  :  And  therefore,  as  I  have 
already  often  obferved,  all  thofe  preceding  glorious  events,  by 
•which  God  wrought  glorious  things  for  his  church,  are  fpoken 
of  in  fcripturc  as  images  of  Chrift's  laft  coming  to  judgment. 

But  I  haften  more  particularly  to  fhow  how  this  kind  of  fuc- 
cefs of  Chrift's  purchafe  is  accomplifhed. 

1.  Chrift  will  appear  in  the  glory  of  his  Father,  with  all  his 
holy  angels,  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven.  When  the  world 
are  thus  revelling  in  their  wickednefs,  and  compafTing  the  holy 
city  about,  juft  ready  to  deftroy  it,  and  when  the  church  is  re- 
duced to  fuch  a  great  ftrait,  then  fhall  the  glorious  Redeemer 
appear.  He  through  whom  this  redemption  has  all  along  been 
carried  on,  he- fhall  appear  in  the  fight  of  the  world  ;  the  light 
of  his  glory  fhall  break  forth  ;  the  whole  world  fliall  immedi- 
ately have  notice  of  it,  and  they  {hall  lift  up  their  eyes  and  be- 
hold this  wonderful  fight.  It  is  faid,  «<  Every  eye  fhall  fee 
him/'  Rev.  i.  7,  ■  Chrift  fhall  appear  coming  in  his  human 
^  nature^ 


Part  II.  2,     WORK    of    REDEMPTION.        327 

nature,  in  that  fame  body  which  was  brought  forth  in  a  flable, 
and  laid  in  a  manger,  and  which  afterwards  was  fo  cruelly  ufed, 
and  nailed  to  the  crofs. 

Men  fhall  now  lift  up  their  eyes,  and  fee  him  coming  in  fuch 
majefty  and  glory  as  now  is  to  us  utterly  inconceivable.  The 
glory  of  the  fun  in  a  clear  firmament,  will  be  but  darknefs  in 
comparifon  of  it  ;  and  all  the  glorious  angels  and  archangels 
Ihall  attend  upon  him,  thoufand  thoufands  miniflering  to  him, 
and  ten  thoufand  times  ten  thoufand  round  about  him.  How 
different  a  perfon  will  he  then  appear  from  what  he  did  at  his 
firft  coming,  when  he  was  as  a  root  out  of  a  dry  ground,  a  poor, 
defpifed,  afflifted  man  1  How  different  now  is  his  appearance, 
in  the  midfl  of  thofe  glorious  angels,  principalities,  and  powers, 
in  heavenly  places,  attending  him  as  his  ordinary  fervants,  from 
what  it  was  when  in  the  midfl  Of  a  ring  of  foldiers,  with  his 
mock  robe  and  his  crown  of  thorns,  to  be  buffeted  and  fpit  up- 
on, or  hanging  on  the  crofs  between  two  thieves,  with  a  multi- 
tude of  his  enemies  about  him  triumphing  over  him  ! 

This  fight  will  be  a  moft  unexpefted  fight  to  the  wicked 
world  :  It  will  come  as  a  cry  at  midnight  :  They  fhall  be  taken 
in  the  midfl  of  their  wickednefs,  and  it  will  give  them  a  dread- 
ful alarm.  It  will  at  once  break  up  their  revels,  their  eating, 
and  drinking,  and  caroufing.  It  will  put  a  quick  end  to  the 
dfelign  of  the  great  army  that  will  then  be  compafTing  the  camp 
of  the  faints  :  It  will  make  them  let  drop  their  weapons  out 
of  their  hands.  The  world,  which  will  then  be  very  full  of 
people,  moft  of  whom  will  be  wicked  men,  will  then  be  filled 
with  dolorous  fhrieking  and  crying  ;  for  all  the  kindreds  of 
the  earth  fhall  wail  hccaufe  of  him,  Rev.  i,  7.  And,  ^  Where 
fhall  they  hide  thcmfelvcs  ?— ^  How  will  the  fight  of  that  aw- 
ful majefl)^  terrify  them  when  taken  in  the  midft  of  their  wick- 
ednefs ?  Then  they  fhall  fee  who  he  is,  what  kind  of  a  perfon 
he  is,  whom  they  have  mocked  and  fcoffed  at,  and  whofe  church 
they  have  been  endeavouring  to  overthrow.  This  fight  will 
change  their  voice.  The  voice  of  their  laughter  and  finging, 
while  they  are  marrying  and  giving  in  marriage,  and  the  voice 
of  their  fcoffing,  fhall  be  changed  into  hideous,  yea  hellifh 
yelling.  Their  countenances  fhall  be  changed  from  a  fhow  of 
carnal  mirtl>,  haughty  pride,  and  contempt  of  God's  people  ;  it 
fhall  put  on  a  fhewof  ghaflly  terror  and  amazement  ;  and  trem- 
bling and  chattering  of  teeth  fhall  fcizc  upon  them. 

But 


32S  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE  Period  III. 

But  vvith  refpeci  to  the  faints,  the  church  of  Chrift,  it  fhall 
^e  a  joyful  and  moll  glorious  fight  to  them  ;  For  this  fight  will 
at  once  deliver  them  from  all  fear  of  their  enemies,  who  were 
before  compafTing  them  about,  juft  ready  to  fwaliow  them  up. 
Deliverance  fhall  c^me  in  their  extremity  :  The  glorious  Cap- 
tain of  their  falvation  fhall  appear  for  them,  at  a  time  when  no 
other  help  appears;     Then    fhall  they  lift  up   their  heads,   and 

their  redemption  fhall  be  drawing  nigh,  Luke  xxi.  28. And 

thus  .Chriit  will  appear  with  infinite  majefty,  and  yet  at  the 
fame  time  they  fliail  fee  infinite  love  in  his  countenance  to  them. 
And  thus  to  fee  their  Redeemer  coming  in  the  clouds  of  heaven, 
■will  fill  their  hearts  full  of  gladnefs.  Their  countenances  alfo 
fhall  be  changed,  but  not  as  the  countenances  of  the  wicked, 
but  fliall  be  changed  from  being  forrowful,  to  be  exceeding  joy- 
ful and  triumphant.  And  now  the  work  of  redemption  will  be 
finifhed  in  another  fenfe,  viz.  that  the  whole  church  fhall  be 
completely  and  eternally  freed  from  all  perfecution  and  molefla- 
tion  from  wicked  men  and  devils, 

2.  The  lafl  trumpet  fhall  found,  and  the  dead  fhall  be  raifed, 
and  the  living  changed.  God  fent  forth  his  angels  with  a  great 
found  of  a  trumpet,  to  gather  together  his  eleft  from  the  four 
corners  of  the  earth  in  a  myflical  fenfe,  before  the  deflru6lion 
df  Jerufalem  ;  i.  e.  he  fent  forth  the  apoflles,  and  others,  to 
preach  the  gofpel  all  over  the  world.  And  fo  in  a  myflical  fenfe 
the  great  trumpet  was  blown  at  the  beginning  of  the  glorious 
times  of  the  church.  But  now  the  great  trumpet  is  blown  in  3 
more  literal  fenfe,  with  a  mighty  found,  which  fhakes  the  earth. 
There  will  be  a  great  fignal  given  by  a  mighty  found  made, 
•which  is  called  the  voice  cj  tht  archangdi  as  being  the  angel 
of  greateft  flrength,  1  Thef,  iv.  i6.  "  For  the  Lord  himfelf 
fhall  defcend  from  heaven  with  a  fhout,  with  the  voice  of  the 
archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of  God."  On  the  found  of  the 
great  trumpet,  the  dead  fhall  be  raifed  every  where.  Now  the 
number  of  the  dead  is  very  great.  How  many  has  death  cut 
down  for  fo  long  a  time  as  fince  the  world  has  flood  !  But  then 
the  number  will  be  much  greater  after  the  world  fhall  have 
flood  fo  much  longer,  and  through  mofl  of  the  remaining  time 
will  doubtlefs  be  much  fuller  of  inhabitants  than  ever  it  has 
been.  All  thefe  fhall  now  rife  from  the  dead.  The  graves 
fhall  be  opened  every  where  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  and  the 
fea  fhall  give  up  the  innumerable  dead  that  are  in  it,  Rev,  xx.  13. 

And 


Part  II.  2.      W  O  R  K    OF   R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.        329 

And  now  all  the  inhabitants  that  ever  fhall  have  been  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  tliat 
time,  fhall  all  appear  upon  earth  at  once  ;  «11  that  ever  have 
been  of  the  church  of  God  in  all  ages,  Adam  and  Eve,  the  firft 
parents  of  mankind,  and  Abel,  and  Seth,  and  Methufelah,  and 
all  the  faints  who  were  their  contemporaries,  and  Noah,  and 
Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  and  the  prophets  of  Ifrael,  and  the 
faints  in  the  time  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  and  all  that  were  of 
the  church  in  their  times ;  and  all  the  holy  apoflles  of  Jefus 
Chrift,  and  all  the  faints  of  their  times ;  and  all  the  holy  mar- 
tyrs under  the  ten  heathen  perfecutions  ;  and  all  who  belonged 
to  the  church  in  its  wildcrnefs  ftate,  during  the  dark  times  oF 
Antichrift  ;  and  all  the  holy  martyrs  who  have  fuffered  under 
the  cruelty  of  the  Popifli  perfecutions  ;  and  all  the  faints  of  the 
prefent  time  ;  and  all  the  faints  who  are  here  in  this  affembly 
among  the  reft ;  and  all  that  fhall  be  from  hence  to  the  end  of 

the  world. Now  alfo  all  the  enemies  of  the   church   that 

have  or  fhall  be  in  all  the  ages  of  the  world,  fhall  appear  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth  again ;  all  the  wicked  killed  in  the  flood, 
and  the  multitudes  that  died  all  over  the  world  among  God's 
profefling  people,  or  others ;  all  that  died  in  all  the  heathen  na- 
tions before  Chrift,  and  all  wicked  heathens,  and  Jews,  and 
Mahometans,  and  Papifts,  that  have  died  fince  ;  all  fhall  come 
together.  Sinners  of  all  forts  ;  demure  hypocrites,  thofe  who 
have  the  faireft  and  beft  outfide,  and  open  profane  drunkards, 
whoremafters,  hereticks,  Deifts,  and  all  cruel  perfecutors,  and 
all  that  have  died  or  fhall  die  in  Cm  amongft  us. 

And  at  the  fartie  time  that  the  dead  are  raifed,  the  living  fhall 
be  changed.  The  bodies  of  the  wicked  who  fhall  then  be  liv- 
ing, fhall  be  fo  changed  as  to  fit  them  for  eternal  torment  with- 
out corruption ;  and  the  bodies  of  all  the  living  faints  fhall  be 
changed  to  be  like  Chrift's  glorious  body,  1  Cor.  xv,  51,  53, 
53.  The  bodies  of  the  faints  fhall  be  fo  changed  as  to  render 
them  for  ever  incapable  of  pain,  or  afflidlion,  or  uneafinefs ; 
and  all  that  duUnefs  and  heavinefs,  and  all  that  deformity^ 
which  their  bodies  had  before,  fhall  be  put  off  ;  and  they  fhall 
put  on  flrength,  and  beauty,  and  aftivity,  and  incorruptible  un- 
fading glory.  And  in  fuch  glory  fhall  the  bodies  of  all  the  rifen 
faints  appear. 

And  now  the  work  of  redemption  fhall  be  finifhed  in  anoth- 
er refpcft,  viz,  that  all  the  elc£t  fhall  now  be  aftually  redeemed 
S  s  in 


33©  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     OP  TH2  Period  IIL 

in  both  foul  and  body.  Before  this,  the  work  of  redemption, 
as  to  its  atlual  fuccefs,  was  but  incomplete  and  imperfeft  ;  for  only 
the  fouls  of  the  redeemed  were  aftually  faved  and  glorified,  ex- 
cepting in  fome  few  inftances:  But  now  all  the  bodies  of  the 
iainis  fhall  be  faved  and  glorified  together ;  all  the  eleft  fhall  b© 
glorified  in  the  whole  man,  and  the  foul  and  body  in  union  one 
with  the  other, 

3.  Now  fhall  the  whole  church  of  faints  be  caught  up  in  the 
clouds  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air,  and  all  wicked  men  and 
devils  fhall  be  arraigned  before  the  judg;nient  feat.  When  the 
dead  faints  are  raifed,  then  the  whole  church,  confiding  of  all 
the  eleft  through  all  ages,  will  be  {landing  together,  on  the  face 
of  the  earth,  at  lead  all  excepting  thofe  few  whofe  bodies  were 
glorified  before  ;  and  then  they  fhall  all  mount  up  as  with 
wings  in  the  air  to  meet  Chrift ;  for  it  feems  that  Chrift,  when 
he  comes  to  judgment,  will  not  come  quite  down  to  the  ground, 
but  his  throne  will  be  fixed  in  the  air,  in  the  region  of  the 
clouds,  whence  he  may  be  feea  by  all  that  vaft  multitude  that 
fhall  be  gathered  before  him.  The  church  of  faints  therefore 
fhall  be  taken  up  from  the  earth  to  afcend  up  to  their  Saviour. 
Thus  the  apoftle  tells  us,  that  when  the  dead  in  Chrift  arc  raif- 
ed, and  the  living  changed,  then  thofe  who  are  alive  and  re- 
main, fhall  be  caught  up  together  with  them  to  meet  the  Lord 
in  the  air,  and  fo  fhall  we  be  ever  with  the  Lord,  1  Thef.  iv. 
16,  17.  What  a  wonderful  fight  will  that  be,  when  all  the 
marjy  millions  of  faints  are  feen  thus  mounting  up  from  all  parts 
of  the  world  ! 

Then  fhall  the  work  of  redemption  be  finifhed  in  another  re- 
fpeft :  Then  fhall  the  whole  church  be  perfe6lly  and  for  ever 
delivered  from,  this  prefent  evil  world,  for  ever  forfake  this 
curfed  ground;  They  fhall  take  their  everlafting  leave  of  this 
earth,  where  they  have  been  ftrangers,  and  which  has  been  for 
the  moft  part  fuch  a  fcene  of  their  trouble  and  forrow  ;  where 
the  devil  for  the  moft  part  has  reigned  as  god,  and  has  greatly 
molefted  them,  and  which  has  been  fuch  a  fcene  of  wickednefs 
and  abomination,  where  Chrift  their  Lord  has  been  cruelly  uf- 
ed ;  and  where  they  have  been  fo  hated,  and  reproa<:hed,  and 
peifecuted,  from  age  to  age,  through  moft  of  the  ages  of  the 
world.  They  fhall  leave  it  under  foot  to  go  to  Chrift,  and  nev- 
er fhall  fet  foot  on  it  again.  And  there  fhall  be  an  everlafting 
reparation  made  between  them  and  wicked  men.    Before  they 

were 


PanII.2.     WORK    OF    REDEMx^TION.  331 

were  mixed  together,  and  it  was  impofiible  in  many  inftances  to 
determine  which  were  which  ;  but  now  all  fliall  become  vifible  ; 
both  faints  and  fmners  fhall  appear  in  their  true  charatiiers. 

Then  fhall  all  the  church  be  feen  flocking  together  in  the  air 
to  the  place  where  Chrill  fhall  have  fixed  his  throne,  coming 
from  the  eait  and  weft,  and  north  and  fouth,  to  the  right  hand 
of  Chrift.  What  a  mighty  cloud  of  them  will  there  be,  when 
all  that  ever  have  been  of  the  churcli  of  God,  all  that  were  be- 
fore Chrift,  all  that  multitude  of  faints  that  were  in  the  apoftles' 
time,  and  all  that  were  in  the  days  of  Conflantine  the  Great,  and 
all  that  were  before  and  fince  the  Reformation,  and  alfo  all  that 
great  multitude  of  faints  that  ihall  be  in  all  the  glorious  times  of 
the  church,  when  the  whole  earth  fhall  for  fo  many  generations 
be  full  of  faints,  and  a]fo  all  that  fhall  be  then  living  when 
Chrid  (hall  come ;  I  fay,  what  a  cloud  of  them  will  there  be, 
when  ail  thefe  are  feen  flocking  together  in  the  region  of  the 
clouds  at  the  right  hand  of  Chrift  ! 

And  then  alfo  the  work  of  redemption  will  be  finiflied  in 
another  refpeft,  viz.  that  then  the  church  fliall  all  be  gathered 
together.  They  all  belonged  to  one  fociety  before,  but  yet  were 
greatly  feparated  with  relpefh  to  the  place  of  their  habitation  ; 
fome  being  in  heaven,  and  fome  on  earth ;  and  thofe  who  were 
on  earth  together  were  feparated  one  from  another,  many  of 
them  by  wide  oceans,  and  vaft  continents.  But  now  they  fhall 
all  be  gathered  together,  never  to  be  feparated  any  more.  And 
not  only  fhall  all  the  members  of  the  church  now  be  gathered 
together,  but  all  (hall  be  gathered  unto  their  head,  into  his  im- 
mediate glorious  prefence,  never  to  be  feparated  from-  him  any 
more.     This  never  came  to  pafs  until  now. 

At  the  fame  time,  all  wicked  men  and  devils  fliall  be  brought 
before  the  judgment  feat  of  Chrift.  Thefe  fliall  be  gathered  to 
the  left  hand  of  Chrift,  and,  as  it  feems,  will  ftill  remain  upon 
the  earth,  and  fliall  not  be  caught  up  into  the  air,  as  the  faints 
fhall  be.  The  devil,  that  old  ferpent,  fhall  now  be  dragged  up 
out  of  hell.  He,  that  firft  procured  the  fall  and  mifery  of  man- 
kind, and  has  fo  fet  himfelf  againft:  their  redemption,  and  has 
all  along  fhown  himfelf  fuch  an  inveterate  enemy  to  the  Re- 
deemer ;  now  he  fhall  never  more  have  any  thing  to  do  with 
the  church  of  God,  or  be  fuffered  in  the  leaft  to  afflift  or  moleft , 
any  member  of  it  any  more  for  ever.  Inftead  of  that,  now  he 
jnufl  be  judged,  and  receive  the  due  reward  of  his  deeds.     Now 

is 


332  A    H  1  S  T  O  R   Y    OF    the  Period  III. 

is  come  the  time  which  he  has  always  dreaded,  and  trembled  at 
the  thought  of;  the  time  wherein  he  muft  be  judged,  and  receive 
his  full  punifhment.  He  who  by  his  temptation  malicioufly 
procured  Chrifl's  crucifixion,  and  triumphed  upon  it,  as  though 
he  had  obtained  the  viftory,  even  he  fhall  fee  the  confequences 
of  the  death  of  Chrift  which  he  procured  :  For  Chrifl's  coming 
to  judge  him  in  his  human  nature  is  the  confequence  of  it ;  for 
Chrifl  obtained  and  purchafed  this  glory  to  himfelf  by  that 
death.  Now  he  muft  ftand  before  that  fame  Jefus  whofe  death 
he  procured,  to  be  judged,  condemned,  and  eternally  deftroyed 
by  him.  If  Satan,  the  prince  of  hell,  trembles  at  the  thought 
of  it  thoufands  of  years  beforehand,  how  much  more  will  he 
tremble,  as  proud  and  as  ftubborn  as  he  is,  when  he  comes  to 
ftand  at  Chrift's  bar. 

Then  fhall  he  alfo  ftand  at  the  bar  of  the  faints,  whom  he  has 
fo  hated,  and  afflifted,  and  molefted  ;  For  the  faints  fhall  judge 
him  with  Chrift  :  i  Cor.  vi.  3.  «'  ^  Know  ye  not  that  we  fhall 
judge  angels  ?"  Now  fhall  he  be  as  it  were  fubdued  under 
the  church's  feet,  agreeable  to  Rom.  xvi.  20.— ——Satan,  when 
he  firft  tempted  our  firft  parents  to  fall,  deceitfully  and  lyingly 
told  them,  that  they  fhould  be  as  gods ;  But  little  did  he  think 
that  the  confequence  fhould  be,  that  they  fhould  indeed  be  fo 
much  as  gods,  as  to  be  affelTors  with  God  to  judge  him.  Much 
lefs  did  he  think,  that  that  confequence  would  follow,  that  one 
of  that  nature  which  he  then  tempted,  one  of  the  pofterity  of 
thofe  perfons  whom  he  tempted,  fhould  aftually  be  united  to 
God,  and  that  as  God  he  fhould  judge  the  world,  and  that  he 
himfelf  muft  ftand  trembling  and  aftonifhed  before  his  judgment 
feat.  But  thus  all  the  devils  in  hell,  who  have  fo  oppofed 
Chrift  and  his  kingdom,  fhall  now  at  laft  ftand  in  utmoft  a- 
■mazement  and  horror  before  Chrift  and  his  church,  whp  fhall 
appear  to  condemn  them. 

Now  alfo  fhall  all  Chrift's  other  enemies  be  brought  to  ap- 
pear before  him.  Now  fhall  wicked  proud  fcribes  and  Pharir 
fees,  who  had  fuch  a  malignant  hatred  of  Chrift  while  in  his 
ftate  of  humiliation,  and  who  perfecuted  Chrift  to  death,  thofe 
before  whofe  judgment  feat  Chrift  was  once  called  and  ftood,  as 
a  malefaftor  at  their  bar,  and  thofe  who  mocked  him,  and  buf- 
feted him,  and  fpit  in  his  face  ;  now  fhall  they  fee  Chrift  in  his 
glory,  as  Chrift  forewarned  them  in  the  time  of  it,  Matth.  xxvi, 
164,  65.    Then  Chrift  was  before  their  judgment  feat ;  but  now 

it 


PartII.2.     M'^O  R  K    OF    R  E  D  E  M  PT  I  O  N.  333 

it  is  their  turn.  They  fliall  (land  before  his  judgment  feat  with 
inconceivable  horror  and  amazement,  with  ghaftly  countenances, 
and  quaking  limbs,  and  chattering  teeth,  and  knees  imiting 
one  again  ft  another. 

Now  alfo  all  the  cruel  enemies  and  perfecutors  of  the  church 
that  have  been  in  all  ages,  ihall  come  in  fight  together.  Pha- 
raoh and  the  Egyptians,  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  the  perfecuting 
fcribes  and  Pharil'ecs,  the  perfecuting  heathen  Emperours,  Julian 
the  apoflate,  the  cruel  perfecuting  Popes  and  Papifls,  Gog  and 
Magog,  fhall  all  appear  at  once  before  the  judgment  feat  of 
Chrift.  They  and  the  faints  who  have  in  every  age  been  per- 
fecuted  by  them,  fhall  come  in  fight  one  of  another,  and  mufl 
confront  one  another  now  before  the  great  Judge.  And  now 
ihall  the  faints  on  their  glorious  thrones  be  made  the  judges  of 
thofe  unjuft  kings  and  rulers  who  have  before  judged  and  con- 
demned them,  and  cruelly  put  them  to  death.  Now  fhall  thofc 
perfecutors  behold  the  glory  to  which  they  are  arrived  whom 
they  before  fo  cruelly  defpifed  and  fo  cruelly  ufed  ;  and  Chrilt 
will  make  thofe  holy  martyrs  as  it  were  to  come  and  fet  their 
feet  on  the  necks  of  their  perfecutors  ;  they  fhall  be  made  their 
footftool. 

Thus  wonderfully  will  the  face  of  things  be  altered  ficm 
what  ufed  to  be  in  the  former  times  of  the  world  ;  now  will  all 
things  be  coming  to  rights, 

4.  The  righteoufnefs  of  the  church  fhall  be  manifefted,  and 
all  the  wickednefs  of  their  enemies  fhall  be  brought  to  light. 
Thofe  faints  who  had  been  the  objefts  of  hatred,  reproach,  and 
contempt  in  the  w^orld,  and  were  reviled  and  condemned  by 
their  perfecutors  without  a  caufe,  fhall  now  be  fully  vindicated. 
They  fliall  now  appear  clothed  with  the  glorious  robe  of  Chrift's 
righteoufnefs.  It  Ihall  be  moft  manifeft  before  the  world,  that 
Chrift's  righteoufnefs  is  theirs,  and  they  fhall  as  it  were  glcriouf- 
ly  Ihine  forth  in  it.  And  then  alfo  fhall  their  inherent  holinefs 
be  made  manifeft,  and  all  their  good  works  fhall  be  brought  to 
light.  The  good  things  which  they  did  in  fecret  fhall  now  be 
manifefted  openly.  Thofe  holy  ones  of  God,  who  had  been 
treated  as  though  they  were  the  filth  and  offscouring  of  the 
earth,  as  though  they  were  not  fit  to  live  upon  earth,  as  worfe 
than  bcafts  or  devils,  fhall  now,  when  things  fhall  appear  as 
they  are,  appear  to  have  been  the  excellent  of  the  earth.  Now 
God  will  bring  forth  their  righteoufnefs  as  the  light,  and  their 

judgment 


334  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  III. 

judgment  as  the  noon  day.     And  now  it  fhall  appear  who  were  j 

thofe  wicked  perfons  that   were   not  fit  to   live,    when  all   the  '* 

wickcdnefs  of  the  enemies  of  Chrift  and  his  church,  their  pride, 
their  malice,  their  cruelty,  their  hatred  of  true  religion,  fliall  be 
fet  forth  in  all  the  horrid  afts  of  it,  and  with  all  its  aggravations 
in  its  proper  colours. 

And  now  the  righteous  may  be  heard  before  this  great  Judge, 
who  could  not  be  heard  before  thofe  unjufh  judges.  Now  they 
iliall  declare  their  caufe,  and  fhall  rife  up  in  judgment  againfl 
their  perfecutors,  and  fhall  declare  how  they  have  been  treated 
by  them.  And  now  all  the  wickednefs  of  the  wicked  of  the 
whole  world  fhall  be  brought  to  light.  All  their  fecret  wick- 
ednefs, and  their  very  hearts,  fliall  be  opened  to  view,  and  as  it 
were  turned  infide  out  before  the  bright  light  of  that  great  day  : 
And  things  that  have  been  fpoken  in  the  ear,  in  the  clofet,  and 
done  in  the  dark,  fhall  be  manifefted  in  the  light,  and  proclaim- 
ed before  all  angels  and  men  that  are,  ever  were,  or  fliall  be. 

5.  The  fentence  fliall  be  pronounced  on  the  righteous  and 
the  wicked.  Chrift,  the  glorious  judge,  fhall  pafs  that  bleffed 
fentence  on  the  church  at  his  right  hand,  "  Come,  ye  blelTed  of 
my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world."  This  fentence  fliall  be  pronounced 
with  infinite  love,  and  the  voice  will  be  mofl  fweet,  caufing 
every  heart  to  flow  with  joy.  Thus  Chrift  fhall  pronounce  a 
fentence  of  juflification  on  thoufands  and  millions,  who  have 
before  had  a  fentence  of  condemnation  paffed  upon  them  by 
their  perfecuting  rulers.  He  will  thus  put  honour  upon  thofe 
who  have  been  before  defpifed  :  He  will  own  them  for  his,  and 
will  as  it  v/ere  put  a  crown  of  glory  upon  their  heads  before  the 
world  ;  and  then  fliall  they  fhine  forth  as  the  fun  with  Jefus 
Chrift  in  glory  and  joy,  in  the  fight  of  all  their  enemies. 

And  then  fball  the  fentence  of  condemnation  be  pafTcd  on 
the  wicked,  *'  Depart,  ye  curfed,  into  everlafting  fire,  prepared 
for  the  devil  and  his  angels."  Thus  fliall  the  church's  enemies 
be  condemned  ;  in  which  fentence  of  condemnation,  the  holy 
martyrs,  who  have  fuffered  from  them,  fliall  concur.  When 
the  words  of  this  fentence  are  pronounced,  they  will  ftrike  ev- 
ery heart  of  thofe  at  the  left  hand  with  inconceivable  horror 
and  amazement.  Every  fyllable  of  it  will  be  more  terrible  than 
a  ftream  of  lightning  through  their  hearts.  We  can  conceive 
but  very  little  of  thofe  figns  and  expreflions  of  horror  whi?h 

there 


Part  II.  2.     WORK    qf    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.         335 

there  will  be  upon  it,  of  flirieking,  <^uaking,  gnaftiing  of  teeth, 
diilortions  of  countenance,  hideous  looks,  hideous  actions,  and 
hideous  voices,  through  all  that  vaft  throng. 

6.  Upon  this  Chrift  and  all  his  church  of  faints,  and  all  the 
holy  angels  miniftering  to  them,  fhall  leave  this  lower  world, 
and  afcend  up  towards  the  higheft  heavens.  Chrift  {hall  af- 
cend  in  as  great  glory  as  he  defcended,  and  in  fome  refpefts 
greater  :  For  now  he  fhall  afcend  with  his  cletl  church  with 
him,  glorified  in  both  body  and  foul.  Chrill's  firfl  afcenfion  to 
heaven  foon  after  his  own  refurreftion  was  very  glorious.  But 
this  his  fecond  afcerifion,  the  afcenfion  of  his  myflical  body,  his 
whole  church,  fhall  be  far  more  glorious.  The  redeemed  church 
fhall  all  afcend  with  him  in  a  moll  joyful  and  triumphant  man- 
ner ;  and  all  their  enemies  and  perfecutors,  who  fball  be  left 
behind  on  the  accurfed  ground  to  be  confumed,  fhall  fee  the 
fight,  and  hear  their  fongs. 

And  thus  Chrifl's  church  fhall  for  ever  leave  this  accurfed 
world,  to  go  into  that  more  glorious  world,  the  highefl  heavens, 
into  the  paradife  of  God,  the  kingdom  that  was  prepared  for 
them  from  the  foundation  of  the  world. 

7,  When  they  are  gone,  this  world  fhall  be  fet  on  fire,  and 
be  turned  into  a  great  furnace,  wherein  all  the  enemies  of  Chrift 
and  his  church  fhall  be  tormented  for  ever  and  ever.  This  is 
manifeft  by  2  Pet.  iii.  7.  "  But  the  heavens  and  the  earth  which 
are  now,  by  the  fame  word  are  kept  in  flore,  referved  unto  fire 
againft  the  day  of  judgment,  and  perdition  of  ungodly  men." 
When  Chrift  and  his  church  are  afcended  to  a  diftance  from 
this  world,  that  miferable  company  of  wicked  being  left  behind, 
to  have  their  fentence  executed  upon  them  here,  then,  fome 
way  or  other,  this  whole  lower  world  fhall  be  fet  on  fire,  cither 
by  fire  from  heaven,  or  by  fire  breaking  out  of  the  bowels  of 
the  earth,  or  both,  as  it  was  with  the  water  in  the  time  of  the 
deluge.  However,  this  lower  world  fhall  be  fet  all  on  fire. 
How  will  it  ftrike  the  wicked  with  horror,  when  the  fire  be- 
gins to  lay  hold  upon  them,  and  they  find  no  way  to  efcape  it, 
or  flee  or  hide  from  it  !  What  fhrieking  and  crying  will  there 
be  among  thofe  many  thoufands  and  millions,  when  they  begin 
to  enter  into  this  great  furnace,  when  the  whole  world  fhall  be 
a  furnace  of  the  fierceft  and  moft  raging  heat  !  infomuch  that 
the  Apoftle  Peter  fays,  (2  Pet.  iii.  ip.  12.)  that  "  the  heavens 
fhall  pafs  away  with  a  great  noifc,  and  the  elements  fhall  melt 

with 


336  ,      A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     o^    the  Period  III. 

with  fervent  heat,  the  earth  alfo  and  the  works  that  are  therein 
Ihall  be  burnt  up  ;"  and  that  the  '•  heavens  being  on  lire  fhall 
be  dilTolvcdj  and  the  elements  fliall  melt  v/ith  fervent  heat." 
And  fo  fierce  fliall  be  its  heat,  that  it  fhall  burn  the  earth  into 
its  very  centre  ;  which  feems  to  be  what  is  meant.  Deut.  xxxii, 
22.  "  For  a  fire  is  kindled  in  my  anger,  and  fhall  burn  unto  the 
lowefl  hell,  and  fliall  confume  the  earth  with  her  increafe,  and 
let  on  fire  the  foundations  of  the  mountains." 

And  here  fhall  all  the  perfecutors  of  the  church  of  God  bura 
in  everlailing  fire,  who  have  before  burnt  the  faints  at  the  flake, 
and  fnall  fufier  torments  far  beyond  all  that  their  utmofl  wit  and 
malice  could  inflid  on  the  faints.  And  here  the  bodies  of  all 
the  wicked  fhall  burn,  and  be  tormented  to  all  eternity,  and 
never  be  confumed  ;  and  the  wrath  of  God  fliall  be  poured  out 
on  their  fouls.  Though  the  fouls  of  the  wicked  in  hell  do  now 
fuffer  dreadful  punifhment,  yet  their  punifhment  will  be  fo  fn^ 
creafed  at  the  day  of  judgment,  that  what  they  fuffered  before, 
is,  in  comparifon  of  it,  as  an  imprifonment  to  the  execution 
which  follows  it.  And  now  the  devil,  that  old  ferpent,  fhall 
receive  his  full  punifhment  ;  now  fhall  that  which  he  before 
trembled  for  fear  of,  fully  come  upon  him.  This  world,  which 
formerly  ufed  to  be  the  place  of  his  kingdom,  where  he  fet  up 
himfelf  as  God,  fliall  now  be  the  place  of  his  complete  punifh- 
ment, and  full  and  everlafting  torment. 

And  in  this,  one  dcfign  of  the  work  of  redemption  which  Has 
been  mentioned,  viz.  putting  Chrift's  enemies  under  his  feet, 
fhall  be  perfectly  accomplifhed.  His  enemies  fhall  now  be 
made  his  footflool,  in  the  fuUefl  degree.  Now  fhall  be  the 
moll  perfe£t  fulfilment  of  that  in  Gen.  iii.  15.  <'  It  Tnall  bruife 
thy  head." 

8.  At  the  fame  time,  all  the  church  fhall  enter  with  Chrifl, 
their  glorious  Lord,  into  the  highefl  heaven,  and  there  fhall  en- 
ter on  the  flate  of  their  highefl  and  eternal  bleffednefs  and  glo- 
ry. While  the  lower  world,  which  they  have  left  under  their 
feet,  is  feized  with  the  fire  of  God's  vengeance,  and  flames  are 
kindling  upon  it,  and  the  wicked  are  entering  into  everlafting 
fire,  the  whole  church  (liall  enter,  with  their  glorious  head,  and 
all  the  holy  angels  attending,  in  a  joyful  manner,  into  the  eter- 
nal paradife  of  God,  the  palace  of  the  great  Jehovah,  their  heav- 
enly Father.  The  gates  fhall  open  v/ide  for  them  to  enter,  and 
there  Chrift  will  bring  them  into  his  chambers  in  the  highefl 

fcnfcr 


Part  II.  2.     WORK    or    REDEMPTION.        337 

fenfe.  He  will  bring  them  into  his  Father's  houfe,  into  a  world 
not  like  that  which  they  have  left.  Here  Chrifl  will  bring 
them,  and  prefent  them  in  glory  to  his  Father,  faying,  "  Here 
am  I,  and  the  children  which  thou  hall  given  me  ;"  as  much  as 
to  fay,  Here  am  I,  with  every  one  of  thofe  whom  thou  gaveft 
me  from  eternity  to  take  the  care  of,  that  they  might  be  redeem- 
ed and  glorified,  and  to  redeem  whom  I  have-done  and  fuffered 
fo  much,  and  to  make  way  for  the  redemption  of  whom  I  have 
for  fo  many  ages  been  accomplilhing  fuch  great  changes.  Here 
they  are  now  pcrfe6ily  redeemed  in  body  and  foul  ;  I  have  per- 
feftly  delivered  them  from  all  the  ill  fruits  of  the  fall,  and  per- 
feftly  freed  them  from  all  their  enemies  :  I  have  brought  thera 
all  together  into  one  glorious  focicty,  and  united  them  all  in 
myfelf  :  I  have  openly  judified  them  before  all  angels  and  men, 
and  here  1  have  brought  them  all  away  from  that  accurfed 
"world  where  they  have  fuffered  fo  much,  and  have  brought 
them  before  thy  throne  ;  I  have  done  all  that  for  them  which 
thou  hafl  appointed  me  :  I  have  perfe6tly  cleanfed  them  from 
all  filth inefs  in  my  blood,  and  here  they  are  in  perfect  holinefs, 
fliining  with  thy  perfeft  image. 

And  then  the  Father  will  accept  of  them,  and  own  them  all 
for  his  children,  and  will  welcome  them  to  the  eternal  and  per- 
feft  inheritance  and  glory  of  his  houfe,  and  will  on  this  occa- 
fion  give  more  glorious  manifeftations  of  his  love  than  ever  be- 
fore, and  will  admit  them  to  a  more  full  and  perfe6l  enjoyment 
of  himfelf. 

And  now  fhall  be  the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  in  the  raoft  per- 
fect fenfe.  The  commencement  of  the  glorious  times  of  the 
church  on  earth,  after  the  fall  of  Antichrift,  is  reprefentcd  as 
the  marriage  of  the  Lamb  ;  and  this  fhall  be  the  marriage  of  the 
Lamb  in  the  higheft  fenfe  that  ever  fhall  be  on  earth  :  But  af- 
ter this  we  read  of  another  marriage  of  the  Lamb,  at  the  clofc 
of  the  day  of  judgment.  After  the  beloved  difciple  had  given 
an  account  of  the  day  of  judgment,  in  the  clofe  of  the  20th 
chapter  of  Revelation,  then  he  proceeds  to  give  an  account  of 
what  follows,  in  the  21  ft  and  2  2d  chapters  ;  and  in  the  2d  verfe 
of  the  21ft  chapter,  he  gives  an  account,  that  he  faw  the  holy 
city,  the  new  Jerufalem,  prepared  as  a  bride  adorned  for  her 
hufband.  And  when  Chrift  fhall  bring  hi«  church  into  his  Fa- 
ther's houfe  in  heaven,  after  the  judgment,  he  fliall  bring  her 
thither  as  his  bride,  having  there  prcfcntcd  her,  -whom  he  loved, 
Tt  and 


338  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     OF    the  Period  111. 

and  gave  himfelf  for,  to  himfelf  without  fpot   or  wrinkle,  or 
any  fuch  thing. 

The  bridegroom  and  the  bride  (liall  then  enter  into  heaven, 
both  having  on  their  wedding  robes,  attended  with  all  the  glo- 
lious  angels.  And  there  they  enter  on  the  feaft  and  joys  of 
their  marriage  before  the  Father  ;  they  fhall  then  begin  an  ever- 
lafting  wedding  day.  This  fliall  be  the  day  of  the  gladnefs  of 
Chrilt's  heart,  wherein  he  will  greatly  rejoice,  and  all  the  faints 
fliall  rejoice  with  him.  Chrifl  ihall  rejoice  over  his  bride,  and 
the  bride  fliall  rejoice  in  her  huiband,  in  the  (late  of  her  con- 
fummate  and  everlafting  blelfednefs,  of  which  we  have  a  par- 
ticular dcfcription  in  the  21ft  and  22d  chapters  of  Revelation, 

And  now  the  whole  work  of  redemption  is  finifhed.  We 
have  feen  how  it  has  been  carrying  on  from  the  fall  of  man  to 
this  time.  But  now  it  is  complete  with  refpefl  to  all  that  be- 
longs to  it.  Now  the  top  ftone  of  the  building  is  laid.  In  the 
progrefs  of  the  difcourfe  on  this  fubje6t:,  we  have  followed  the 
church  of  God  in  all  the  great  changes,  all  her  toffings  to  and 
fro  that  fiie  has  been  fubjeft  to,  in  all  the  ftorms  and  tempefts 
through  the  many  ages  of  the  world,  until  at  length  we  have 
feen  an  end  to  all  thefe  ftorms.  We  have  feen  her  enter  the 
harbour,  and  landed  in  the  highefl  heavens,  in  complete  and 
eternal  glory,  in  all  her  members,  foul  and  body.  We  have 
gone  through  time,  and  the  feveral  ages  of  it,  as  the  providence 
of  God,  and  the  word  of  God,  have  led  us  ;  and  now  we  have 
iffued  into  eternity  after  time  fhall  be  no  more.  We  have  feen 
all  the  church's  enemies  fixed  in  endlefs  mifery,  and  have  feen 
the  church  prefented  in  her  perfeft  redemption  before  the  Fa» 
ther  in  heaven,  there  to  enjoy  this  moft  unfpeakable  and  incon- 
ceivable glory  and  blelTcdnefs  ;  and  there  we  leave  her  to  enjoy 
this  glory  throughout  the  never  ending  ages  of  eternity. 

Now  all  Chrift's  enemies  will  be  perfe£lly  put  under  his  feet, 
and  he  fhall  have  his  moft  perfeft  triumph  over  fin  and  Satan, 
and  all  his  inftruments,  and  death,  and  hell.  Now  fhall  all  the 
promifes  made  to  Chrift  by  God  the  Father  before  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world,  the  promifes  of  the  covenant  of  redemption, 
be  fully  accomplifhed.  And  Chrift  fhall  now  perfeflly  have 
obtained  the  joy  that  was  fet  before  him,  for  which  he  under- 
took thofe  igrreat  fuiferin?s  which  he  underwent  in  his  ftate  of 

o  o 

humiliation.     Now  fhall  all  the  hopes  and  expeftations  of  the 
faints  be  fulfilled.     The  ftate  of  things  that  the  church  was  in 

before, 


Part  II. 2.     WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  N.         339 

before,  was  a  progrefTive  and  preparatory  (late  :  But  now  flic 
is  arrived  to  her  mofl  perfeft  Itatc  of  glory.  All  the  glory  of 
the  glorious  times  of  the  church  on  earth  is  but  a  faint  fhadow 
of  this  her  confummate  glory  in  heaven. 

And  now  Chrift  the  great  Redeemer  fhall  be  moll  pcrfe£lly 
glorified,  and  God  the  Father  fhall  be  glorified  in  him,  and  the 
Holy  Ghoil   fliall  be  moft   fully  glorified   in   the  perfection  of 

his  work  on   the  hearts  of  all  the   church. And   now   fnall 

that  new  heaven  and  new  earth,  or  that  renewed  ftate  of  things, 
which  had  been  building  up  ever  fince  Chrifl's  rcfurreftion,  be 
completely  finifhed,  after   the   very  material   frame   of  the   old 
heavens  and  old   earth   are  deflroyed  ;   Rev.   xxi.   1.  '•'  And  I 
faw  a  new  heaven,  and  a   new  earth  :   For  the  firft  heaven   and 
the  firft  earth  were  pafled  away." — And  now  will  the  great  Re- 
deemer have  perfefted  every  thing  that  appertains  to   the  work 
of  redemption,  which  he  began  fo  foon  after   the   fall   of  man. 
And  who  can  conceive  of  the  triumph  of   thofe  praifes  which 
fhall  be  fung  in  heaven  on  this  great  occafion,   fo  much   greater 
than  that  of  the  fall  of  Antichriil,  which  occafions  fuch  praifes 
as  we   have  defcribed   in  the  19th  chapter  of  Revelation  !  The 
beloved  difciple  John  feems  to  want  expreflions  to  defcribe  thofe 
praifes,  and  lays,  "  It  was  as  the  voice  of  many  waters,    and   as 
the    voice   of   mighty    thunderings,    faying,  Alleluia  :   For   the 
Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth,"     But   much   more  inexprefli- 
ble  will  thofe  praifes  be,  which  will  be  fung  in  heaven  after  the 
final  confummation  of  all  things.     Now  fhalLthe  praifes  of  that 
vaft  and  glorious  multitude  be  as  mighty  thunderings  indeed  ! 

And  now  how  are  all  the  former  things  palled  avvay,  and 
what  a  glorious  flate  are  things  fixed  in  to  remain  to  all  eter- 
nity ! And  as  Chrift,  when  he  firft  entered  upon   the   work 

of  redemption  after  the  fall  of  men,    had  the  kingdom   commit- 
ted to  him  of  the  Father,  and  took  on   himfelf  the   adminillra- 
tion  of  the  affairs  of  the  univerfe,   to  manage  all  fo   as   to   fub- 
ferve  the  purpofcs  of  this  affair  ;  fo  now,  the  work  being  finifh- 
ed, he  will  deliver  up  the  kingdom  to  God,   even   the  Father, 
I  Cor.  XV.  ?,4.  "  Then  cometh  the  end,  when   he  fhall  have  de- 
livered  up   the  kingdom   to  God,  even   the  Father  ;  when   he 
fhall  have  put  down   all   rule,   and   all   authority   and  power." 
Not  that  Chrift  fhall  ceafe  to  reign  or   have  a  kingdom    after 
this  ;  for  it  is  faid,  Luke  i.  33.  "  He  fhall  reign  over  the  houfe 
of  Jacob  for  ever,  and  of  his  kingdom  there  fhall  be  no  end,** 

^       So 


340  aHISTORYof    the  Period  III. 

So  in  Pan.  vii.  14.  "  That  his  dominion  is  an  everlafling  do- 
minion, which  fhail  not  pafs  away,  and  his  kingdom  that  which 
fHall  not  be  deflroyed."  But  the  meaning  is,  that  Chrift  fliall 
deliver  up  that  kingdom  or  dominion  which  he  has  over  the 
world,  as  the  Father's  delegate  or  vicegerent,  which  the  Father 
committed  jto  him,  to  be  managed  in  fubferviency  to  this  great 
defign  of  redemption.  The  end  of  this  commiflion,  or  delega- 
tion, which  he  had  from  the  Father,  fe6ms  to  be  to  fubferve 
this  particular  defign  of  redemption  ;  and  therefore,  when  that 
defign  is  fully  accomplifhed,  the  ^ommifiion  will  ceafe,  and 
Chrift  wili  ddivej^t  up  to  the  Father,  from  whom  he  received  it, 

IMPROVEMENT  of  the  WHOLE. 

I  PROCEED  now  to  enter  upon   fomc  improvement  of  the 
whole  that  has  been  faid  from  this  doftrine, 

I.  Hence  we  may  learn  how  great  a  work  this  work  of  re- 
demption is.  We  have  now  had  it  in  a  very  impcrfe£l  manner 
i^t  forth  before  us,  in  the  whole  progrefs  of  it,  from  its  firft  be- 
ginning after  the  fall,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  when  it  is  finifh- 
ed.  We  have  feen  how  God  has  carried  on  this  building  from 
the  firll  foundation  of  it,  by  a  long  fucceffion  of  wonderful 
"works,  advancing  it  higher  and  higher  from  one  age  to  another, 
until  the  top  flone  is  laid  at  the  end  of  the  world.  And  now 
let  us  confider  how  great  a  work  this  is.  ^i  Do  men,  when  they 
behold  fome  great  palaces  or  churches,  fometimes  admire  their 
magnificence,  and  are  almoft  aftonifhed  to  confider  how  great 
a  piece  of  work  it  was  to  build  fuch  an  houfe  ?  then,  ^  How 
■well  may  we  admire  the  greatnefs  of  this  building  of  God,  which 
he  builds  up  age  after  age,  by  a  feries  of  fuch  great  things  which 
he  brings  to  pafs  ?  There  arc  three  things  that  have  been  ex- 
hibited to  us  in  what  has  been  faid,  which  do  efpeclally  fhow 
the  greatnefs  of  the  work  of  redemption, 

1.  The  greatnefs  of  thofe  particular  events,  and  difpenfations 
of  providence,  by  which  it  is  accomplifhed.  How  great  arc 
thofe  things  which  God  has  done,  which  are  but  fo  many  parts 
of  this  great  work  !  What  great  things  were  done  in  the  world 
to  prepare  the  way  for  Chrifl's  coming  to  purchafe,  and  what 
great  things  were  done  in  the  purchafe  of  redemption  I  What  a 

wonderful 


Impr.        W  O  R  K   OF   R  E  D  E  iM  P  T  I  O  N.  341 

wonderful  thing  was  that  which  was  accomplifhcd  to  put  Chrift 
in  an  immediate  capacity  for  this  purchafe,  viz.  his  incarnation, 
that  God  fhould  become  man  !  And  what  great  things  were 
done  in  that  purchafe,  that  a  perfon  '<vho  is  the  eternal  Jehovah, 
fiiould  live  upon  earth  for  four  or  five  and  thirty  years  togeth- 
er, in  a  mean  defpifcd  condition,  and  that  he  fhould  fpcnd  his 
life  in  fuch  labours  and  fufferings,  and  that  at  lafl  he  fhould  die 
upon  the  crofs  !  And  what  great  things  have  been  done  to  ac- 
complifh  the  fuccefs  of  Chriit's  redemption  I  what  great  things 
to  put  him  into  a  capacity  to  accomplilh  this  fuccefs  !  For  this 
purpofe  he  rofe  from  the  dead,  and  afcended  up  into  heaven, 
and  all  things  were  made  fubje6l  to  him.  How  many  miracles 
have  been  wrought,  what  mighty  revolutions  have  been  brought 
to  pafs  in  the  world  already,  and  how  much  greater  fliall  be 
brought  to  pafs,  in  order  to  it  I 

2.  The  number  of  thofe  great  events  by  which  God  carries  on 
this  work,  fhows  the  greatnefsof  the  work.  Thofe  mighty  rev- 
olutions arc  fo  many  as  to  fill  up  many  ages.  The  particular 
wonderful  events  by  which  the  work  of  creation  Was  carried  on 
filled  up  fix  days  :  But  the  great  difpenfations  by  which  the 
work  of  redemption  is  carried  on,  are  fo  many,  that  they  fill  up 
fix  or  feven  thoufand  years  at  leaft,  as  we  have  reafon  to  con- 
clude   from   the   word   of  God. There   were   great   things 

wrought  in  this  affair  before  the  flood,  and  in'  the  flood  tnjp 
world  was  once  deftroyed  by  water,  and  God's  church  was  fo 
wonderfully  preferved  from  the  flood  in  order  to  carry  on  this 
work.  And  after  the  flood,  what  great  things  did  God  work 
relating  to  the  refettling  of  the  world,  to  the  building  of  Babel, 
the  difperfing  of  the  nations,  the  fhortening  of  the  days  of  man's 
life,  the  calling  of  Abraham,  the  deflruftion  of  Sodom  and  Go- 
morrah, and  that  long  feries  of  wonderful  providences  relating 
to  Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  and  Jofeph,  and  thofe  wonders 
in  Egypt,  and  at  the  Red  fea,  and  in  the  wildernefs,  and  in  Ca- 
naan in  Jofhua's  time,  and  by  a  long  fuccefTion  of  wonderful 
providences   from  age  to  age,   towards  the  nation  of  the  Jews  ! 

What  great  things  were  wrought  by  God,  in  fo  often  over- 
turning the  world  before  Chrifl  came,  to  make  way  for  his  com- 
ing !  What  great  things  were  done  alfo  in  Chrifl's  time,  and 
then  after  that  in  overturning  Satan's  kingdom  in  the  heathen 
empire,  and  in  fo  preferving  his  church  in  the  darly  times  of 
Popery,  and  in  bringing  about  a  Reformation  !  How  many  great 

and 


342 


A    HISTORY    OF  THE  Period  111, 


and  wonderful  things  will  be  effefted  in  accomplifliing  the  glo- 
rious times  of  the  church,  and  at  Chrill's  lafl:  coining  on  the 
day  of  judgment,  in  the  deftruftion  of  the  world,  and  in  car- 
rying the  whole  church  into  heaven. 

3.  The  glorious  iffue  of  this  whole  affair,  in  the  perfefl  and 
-  eternal  deflru6lion  of  the  wicked,  and  in  the  confummate  glory 
of  the  righteous.  And  now  let  us  once  more  take  a  view  of 
this  building,  now  all  is  finifhed  and  the  top  ftone  laid.  It  ap- 
peared in  a  glorious  height  in  the  apofUes'  time,  and  much  more 
glorious  in  the  time  of  Conftantine,  and  will  appear  much  more 
glorious  ft  ill  after  the  fall  of  Antichrift  ;  but  at  the  confumma- 
tion  of  all  things,  it  appears  in  an  immcnfely  more  glorious 
height  than  ever  before.  Now  it  appears  in  its  greateft  magnif- 
icence, as  a  complete  lofty  ftrufture,  whofe  top  reaches  to  the 
heaven  of  heavens;  a  building  worthy  of  the  great  God,  the 
King  of  kings. 

And  from  what  has  been  faid,  one  may  argue,  that  the  work 
of  redemption  is  the  greateft  of  all  God's  works  of  which  we 
have  any  notice,  and  it  is  the  end  of  all  his  other  works.  It 
appears  plainly  from  what  has  been  faid,  that  this  work  is  the 
principal  of  all  God's  works  of  providence,  and  that  all  other 
works  of  providence  are  reducible  hither  ;  they  are  all  fubordi- 
nate  to  the  great  afFair  of  redemption.  We  fee  that  all  the  rev- 
olutions in  the  world  are  to  fubferve  this  grand  defign  ;  fo  that 
the  work  of  redemption  is,  as  it  were,  the  fum  of  God's  works 
of  providence. 

This  fhows  us  how  much  greater  the  work  of  redemption  is, 
than  the  work  of  creation  :  For  I  have  feveral  times  obferved, 
that  the  work  of  providence  is  greater  than  the  work  of  crea- 
tion, becaufe  it  is  the  end  of  it ;  as  the  ufe  of  an  houfe  is  the 
end  of  the  building  of  the  houfe.  But  the  work  of  redemption, 
as  I  have  juft  faid,  is  the  fum  of  all  God's  works  of  providence  ; 
all  are  fubordinate  to  it :  So  the  work  of  the  new  creation  is 
more  excellent  than  the  old.  So  it  ever  is,  that  when  one  thing 
is  removed  by  God  to  make  way  for  another,  the  new  one  ex- 
cels the  old.  Thus  the  temple  excelled  the  tabernacle  ;  the  new 
covenant  the  old  ;  the  new  difpenfation  of  the  gofpel  the  dif- 
penfation  of  Mofes ;  the  throne  of  David  the  throne  of  Saul ; 
the  priefthood  of  Chrift  the  priefthood  of  Aaron  ;  the  new  Je- 
rufalem  the  old  ;  and  fo  the  new  creation  far  excels  the  old. 

God 


Impr.        WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  343 

God  has  ufed  the  creation  which  he  has  made,  for  no  other 
piirpofe  but  to  fubferve  the  defigns  of  this  affair.  To  anfwer 
this  end,  he  hath  created  and  difpofed  of  mankind,  to  this  the  an- 
gels, to  this  the  earth,  to  this  the  higheft  heavens.  God  created 
the  world  to  provide  a  fpoufe  and  a  kingdom  for  his  Son  :  And 
the  fetting  up  of  the  kingdom  of  Chrift,  and  the  fpiritual  marriage 
of  the  fpoule  to  him, is  what  the  whole  creation  labours  and  travails 
in  pain  to  bring  to  pafs.  This  work  of  redemption  is  fo  much 
the  greateft  of  all  the  works  of  God,  that  all  other  works  are  to 
be  looked  upon  either  as  parts  of  it,  or  appendages  to  it,  or  are 
fome  way  reducible  to  it ;  and  fo  all  the  decrees  of  God  do  fome 
way  or  other  belong  to  that  eternal  covenant  of  redemption 
which  was  between  the  Father  and  the  Son  before  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world.  Every  decree  of  God  is  fome  way  or  other 
reducible  to  that  covenant. 

And  feeing  this  work  of  redemption  is  fo  great  a  work,  hence 
we  need  not  wonder  that  the  angels  defirc  to  look  into  it.  And 
we  need  not  wonder  that  fo  much  is  made  of  it  in  fcripture, 
and  that  it  is  fo  much  infifted  on  in  the  hiflories,  and  prophe- 
cies, and  fongs  of  the  Bible  ;  for  the  work  of  redemption  is  the 
great  fubjeft  of  the  whole,  of  its  dodtrines,  its  promifes,  its  types, 
its  fongs,  its  hiftories,  and  its  prophecies. 

II.  Hence  we  may  learn  how  God  is  the  Alpha  and  Omega, 
the  beginning  and  ending  of  all  things.  Such  are  the  charac- 
ters and  titles  we  find  often  afcribed  to  God  in  fcripture,  in 
thofe  places  where  the  fcripture  fpeaks  of  the  courfe  of  things, 
and  feries  of  events  in  providence:  If.  xli.  4.  "  ^i  Who  hath 
wrought  and  done  it,  calling  the  generations  from  the  begin- 
ning ?  I  the  Lord  the  firft,  and  with  the  lall,  I  am  he.'*  And 
particularly  does  the  fcripture  afcribe  fuch  titles  to  God,  where 
it  fpeaks  of  the  providence  of  God,  as  it  relates  to,  and  is  funi- 
medup  in  the  great  work  of  redemption  ;  as  If.  xliv.  6,  7.  and 
xlviii.  12.  with  the  context,  beginning  with  the  9th  verfe.  So 
God  eminently  appears  as  the  firft  and  the  laft,  by  confidering 
the  whole  fcheme  of  divine  providence  as  we  have  confidered 
it,  viz.  as  all  reducible  to  that  one  great  work  of  redemption. 

And  therefore,  when  Chrift  reveals  the  future  great  events  of 
providence  relating  to  his  church  and  people,  and  this  affair  of 
redemption,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  to  his  difciple  John,  he 
often  reveals  himfelf  under  this  charafter.  So  Rev.  i.  8.  "  I 
am  Alpha  and  Omega,   the  beginning  and  the  ending,  faith  the 

*  Lord, 


344  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  THE         Penod  III. 

Lord,  which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come,  the  Al- 
mighty." So  again,  verf.  lo,  n.  "I  heard  behind  me  a  great 
voice  as  of  a  trumpet,  faying,  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  firfl 
and  the  laft."  Alpha  and  Omega  arc  the  names  of  the  firfl  and 
laft  letters  of  the  Greek  alphabet,  as  A  and  Z  arc  of  ours ;  and 
therefore  it  fignifies  the  fame  as  his  being  the  firfl  and  the  lafl, 
and  the  beginning  and  the  ending. 

Thus  God  is  called  in  the  beginning  of  this  book  of  Revela- 
tion, before  the  courfe  of  the  prophecy  begins ;  and  fo  again  he  . 
is  called  at  the  end  of  it,  after  the  courfe  of  events  is  gone 
through,  and  the  final  ifTuc  of  things  is  fcen  :  As  Rev.  xxi.  6. 
"  And  he  faid  unto  me,  It  is  done,  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega, 
the  beginning  and  the  end."  And  fo  chap.  xxii.  12,  13.  '*  And 
behold,  I  come  quickly  ;  and  ray  reward  is  with  me,  to  give 
every  man  according  as  his  work  fhall  be,  I  am  Alpha  and 
Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end,  the  firfl  and  the  lafl.'* 

We  have  feen  how  this  is  true  in  the  courfe  of  what  I  have 
laid  before  you  upon  this  fubjeft.  We  have  feen  how  things 
were  from  God  in  the  beginning  ;  on  what  defign  God  began 
the  courfe  of  his  providence  in  the  beginning  of  the  generations 
of  men  upon  the  earth  ;  and  we  have  feen  how  it  is  God  that 
has  all  along  carried  things  on  agreeable  to  the  fame  deiigns 
without  ever  failin^^-  :  and  how  at  lafl  the  conclufion  and  final 
iiTue  of  things  are  to  God  ;  and  fo  we  have  feen  how  all  things 
are  of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to  him  ;  and  therefore  may 
well  now  cry  out  with  the  apoflle,  Rom,  xi.  33.  "  O  the  depth 
of  the  riches  both  of  the  wifdom  and  knowledge  of  God  !  how 
unfearchable  are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  pafl  finding  out  !'* 
and  verf',  36,  '*  For  of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to  him,  arc 
ail  things  :  To  whom  be  glory  for  ever.     Amen." 

We  have  feen  how  other  things  came  to  an  end  one  after 
another  ;  how  flates,  and  kingdoms,  and  empires,  one  after  an- 
other, fell  and  came  to  nothing,  even  the  greatefl  and  flrongefl  of 
them  ;  we  have  feen  how  the  world  has  been  often  overturned, 
and  will  be  more  remarkably  overturned  than  ever  it  has  been 
yet ;  we  have  feen  how  the  world  comes  to  an  end,  how  it  was 
f.rfl  delboyed  by  water,  and  how  at  lafl  it  fhall  be  utterly  de- 
ftroyed  by  fire  :  But  yet  God  remains  the  fame  through  all  ages* 
Kc   was  before  the  beginning  of  this  courfe  of  things,  and  he 

will  be  after  the  end  of  them  ;  agreeable  to  Pf.  cii.  25,  26. 

Thus  God  is  he  that  is,  and  that  was,  and  that  is  to  come. 

We 


liiipr.         WORK    OF   REDEMPTION.  345 

We  have  feen,  in  a  variety  of  inflanccs,  how  all  other  gods 
perifh ;  wc  have  feen  how  the  ancient  gods  of  the  heathen  in 
the  nations  about  Canaan,  and  throughout  the  Roman  empire, 
are  all  deftroyed,  and  their  worfhip  long  fince  overthrown ; 
we  have  heard  how  Antichrift,  who  has  called  himfelf  a  god 
on  earth,  and  how  Mahomet,  who  claims  religious  honours, 
and  how  all  the  gods  of  the  heathen  through  the  world,  will 
come  to  an  end  ;  and  how  Satan,  the  great  dragon,  that  old  fer- 
pent,  who  has  fet  up  himfelf  as  god  of  this  world,  will  be  caft 
into  the  lake  of  fire,  there  to  fuffer  his  complete  punifhment  : 
But  Jehovah  remains,  and  his  kingdom  is  an  everlalting  king- 
dom, and  of  his  dominion  there  is  no  end.  We  have  feen  what 
mighty  changes  there  have  been  in  the  world  ;  but  God  is  un- 
changeable, "  the  fame  yellerday,  today  and  forever." 

We  began  at  the  head  of  the  ftream  of  divine  providence, 
and  have  followed  and  traced  it  through  its  various  windings 
and  turnings,  until  we  are  come  to  the  end  of  k,  and  we  fee 
where  it  iflues.     As  it  began  in  God,   fo  it  ends  in  God.     God 

is  the  infinite  ocean  into  which  it  empties  itfelf. Providence 

is  like  a  mighty  wheel,  whofe  circumference  is  fo  high  that  it  is 
dreadful,  with  the  glory  of  the  God  of  Ifrael  above  upon  it  ;  as 
it  is  reprefented  in  Ezekiel's  vifion.  We  have  feen  the  revo~ 
lution  of  this  wheel,  and  how,  as  it  was  from  God,  fo  its  re- 
turn has  been  to  God  again.  All  the  events  of  divine  provi- 
dence are  like  the  links  of  a  chain  ;  the  firfl  link  is  from  God, 
and  the  laft  is  to  him. 

III.  We  may  fee  by  what  has  been  faid,  how  Chrift  in  all 
things  has  the  preeminence.  For  this  great  work  of  redemption 
is  all  his  work  :  He  is  the  great  Redeemer,  and  therefore  the 
work  of  redemption  being  as  it  were  the  fum  of  God's  works  of 
providence,  this  fhows  the  glory  of  our  Lord  Jefus  Chrift,  as 
being  above  all,  and  through  all,  and  in  all.  That  God  intend- 
ed the  world  for  his  Son's  ufe  in  the  affair  of  redemption,  is 
one  reafon  that  is  to  be  given  why  he  created  the  world  by  him, 
which  feems  to  be  intimated  by  the  apoftle  in  Eph.  iii.  9. — 12, 
What  has  been  faid,  fhows  how  all  the  purpofes  of  God  are 
purpofed  in  Chrift,  and  how  he  is  before  all  and  above  all,  and 
all  things  confift  by  him,  and  are  governed  by  him,  and  are  for 
him,  Colof.  i.  15,  16,  17,  18.  We  fee  by  what  has  bec^n  faid, 
how  God  makes  him  his  firftborn,  higher  than  the  kings  of  the 
earth,  and  fets  his  throne  above  their  thrones  ;  how  God  has 
U  u  ;dways 


34^?  A    K  I  S  T  O  R  Y    oi'    TH2  Period  III. 

always  upheld  his  kingdom,  when  the  kingdom  of  others  have 
come  to  an  end  ;  how  that  appears  at  lad  above  all,  however 
greatly  oppofed  for  fo  many  ages  ;  how  finally  all  other  king- 
doms fell,  and  his  kingdom  is  the  laft  kingdom,  and  is  a  king- 
dom that  never  gives  place  to  any  other. 

We  fee,  that  whatever  changes  there  are,  and  however  highly 
Chrill's  enemies  exalt  themfelves,  that  yet  finally  all  his  ene- 
mies become  his  footftool,  and  he  reigns  in  uncontrolled  power 
and  immenfe  glory  ;  In  the  end  his  people  are  all  perfectly  fav- 
ed  and  made  happy,  and  his  enemies  all  become  his  footftool.— «» 
And  thus  God  gives  the  v/orld  to  his  Son  for  his  inheritance, 

IV,  Plence  we  may  fee  what  a  confiflent  thing  divine  provi- 
dence is.  The  confideration  of  what  has  been  faid,  may  greatly 
lerve  to  fhow  us  the  confiftency,  order,  and  beauty,  of  God's 
works  of  providence.  If  we  behold  the  events  of  providence 
in  any  other  view  than  that  in  which  it  has  been  fet  before  us, 
it  will  all  look  like  confufion,  like  a  number  of  jumbled  events 
coming  to  pafs  without  any  order  or  method,  like  the  toflipg 
of  the  waves  of  the  fea  ;  things  will  look  as  though  one  con- 
fufed  revolution  came  to  pafs  after  another,  merely  by  blind 
chance,  without  any  regular  or  certain  end. 

But  if  we  confider  the  events  of  providence  in  the  light  in 
which  they  have  been  fet  before  us  under  this  do6lrine,  in  which 
the  fcrlptures  fet  them  before  us,  they  appear  far  from  being 
jumbled  and  confufed,  an  orderly  feries  of  events,  all  wifely  or- 
dered and  direfted  in  excellent  harmony  and  confidence,  tend- 
ing all  to  one  end.  The  wheels  of  providence  are  not  turned 
round  by  blind  chance,  but  they  are  full  of  eyes  round  about,  as 
Ezekiel  reprefents,  and  they  are  guided  by  the  Spirit  of  God  ; 
Where  the  fpirit  goes,  they  go  :  And  all  God's  works  of  provi* 
dence  through  all  ages  meet  in  one  at  laft,  as  fo  many  lines 
meeting  in  one  centre. 

It  is  with  God's  work  of  providence,  as  it  is  with  his  work 
of  creation  ;  it  is  but  one  work.  The  events  of  providence 
are  not  fo  many  diftinft,  independent,  works  of  providence, 
but  they  are  rather  fo  many  different  parts  of  one  work  of  prov- 
idence :  It  is  all  one  work,  one  regular  fcheme,  God's  works 
of  providence  are  not  difunited  and  jumbled  without  connexion 
or  dependence,  but  are  all  united,  juft  as  the  feveral  parts  of 
one  building  :  There  are  many  ftones,  many  pieces  of  timber, 
but  all  are  fo  joined,  and  fitly  formed  together,  that  they  make 

bu/ 


Impr.         WORK    or    REDEMPTION.  3.57 

but  one  building  :   They  have  all  but  one   foundation,   and  arc 
united  at  laft  in  one  top  flone. 

God's  providence  may  not  unfitly  be  compared  to  a  large  and 
long  river,  having  innumerable  branches,  beginning  in  different 
regions,  and  at  a  great  diftance  one  from  another,  and  all  con- 
fpiring  to  one  common  ilfue.  After  their  very  diverfe  and  con- 
trary courfes  which  they  held  for  a  while,  yet  they  all  gather 
more  and  more  together,  the  nearer  they  come  to  their  common 
end,  and  all  at  length  difcharge  themfeh^cs  at  one  mouth  into 
the  fame  ocean.  The  different  flrfflims  of  this  river  are  apt  to 
appear  like  mere  jumble  and  confufion  to  us,  becaufe  of  the 
limitednefs  of  our  fight,  whereby  we  cannot  fee  from  one  branch 
to  another,  and  cannot  fee  the  whole  at  once,  fo  as  to  fee  hov/ 
all  are  united  in  one.  A  man  who  fees  but  one  or  two  flreams 
at  a  tim.e,  cannot  tell  what  their  courfe  tends  to.  Their  courfie 
feems  very  crooked,  and  different  ftreams  feem  to  run  for  a 
while  different  and  contrary  ways  :  And  if  we  view  things  at  a 
diftance,  there  feem  to  be  innumerable  obffacles  and  impedi- 
ments in  the  way  to  hinder  their  ever  uniting,  and  coming  to 
the  ocean,  as  rocks  and  mountains,  and  the  like  ;  but  yet  if  we 
trace  them,  they  all  unite  at  laft,  and  all  come  to  the  fame  Iffue, 
difgorging  themfelves  in  one  into  the  fame  great  ocean.  Not 
one  of  all  the  ftreams  fail  of  coming  hither  at  laft, 

V.  From  the  whole  that  has  been  faid,  we  may  ftrongly  ar- 
gue, that  the  fcriptures  are  the  word  of  God,  becaufe  they  alone 
inform  us  what  God  is  about,  or  what  he  aims  at,  in  thefe  works 
■which  he  is  doing  in  the  world.  God  doubtl^fs  is  purfuing 
fome  dehgn,  and  carrying  on  fome  fcheme,  in  the  various 
changes  and  revolutions  which  from  age  to  age  come  to  pafs  in 
the  world.  It  is  moft  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  there  is  fome 
certain  great  defign  to  which  Providence  fubordinates  all  the 
great  fucceffive  changes  in  the  affairs  of  the  world  which  God 
has  made.  It  is  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  all  revolutions,  from 
the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  end  of  it,  are  but  the  various 
parts  of  the  fame  fcheme,  all  confpiring  to  bring  to  pafs  that 
great  event  which  the  great  Creator  and  Governour  of  the 
world  has  ultimately  In  view  ;  and  that  the  fcheme  will  not  be 
finifiied,  nor  the  defign  fully  accompliffied,  and  the  great  and 
ultimate  event  fully  brought  to  pafs,  until  the  end  of  the  world, 
and  the  laft  revolution  is  brought  about. 

Now 


348  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OF  the  Period  III. 

Now  there  is  nothing  elfe  that  informs  us  what  this  fcheme 
and  defign  of  God  In  his  works  is,  but  only  the  holy  fcriptures. 
Nothing  elfe  pretends  to  fet  in  view  the  whole  feries  of  God's 
works  of  providence  from  beginning  to  end,  and  to  inform  us 
how  all  things  were  from  God  at  firft,  and  for  what  end  they 
are,  and  how  they  were  ordered  from  the  beginning,  and  how 
they  will  proceed  to  the  end  of  the  world,  and  what  they  will 
come  tb  at  laft,  and  how  then  all  things  fhall  be  to  God.  Noth- 
ing elfe  but  the  fcriptures  has  any  pretence  for  fhowing  any 
manner  of  regular  fcheme  or  drift  in  thofe  revolutions  which 
God  orders  from  age  to  age.  Nothing  elfe  pretends  to  fhow 
what  God  would  by  the  things  which  he  has  done,  and  is  doing, 
and  will  do  ;  what  he  feeks  and  intends  by  them.  Nothing 
elfe  pretends  to  fliow,  with  any  diftinftnefs  or  certainty,  how 
the  world  began  at  fjrfl,  or  to  tell  us  the  original  of  things. 
Nothing  but  the  fcriptures  fets  forth  how  God  governed  the 
-world  from  the  beginning  of  the  generations  of  men  upon  the 
earth,  in  an  orderly  hlflory  ;  and  nothing  elfe  fets  before  us  how 
.5je  will  govern  it  to  the  end,  by  an  orderly  prophecy  of  future 
events  ;  agreeable  to  the  challenge  which  Qod  makes  to  the 
gods,  and  prophets,  and  teachers  of  the  heathen,  in  If.  xli.  22, 
23.  "  Let  them  bring  them  forth,  and  fhew  us  what  fhall  hap- 
pen :  Let  them  fhew  the  former  things  what  they  be,  that  wc 
Tnay  confider  them,  and  know  the  latter  end  of  them  ;  or  de- 
clare us  things  for  to  come.  Shew  the  things  that  are  to  come 
hereafter,  that  we  may  know  that  ye  are  gods." 

Reafon  fliows,  that  it  is  fit  and  requifite,  that  the  intelligent 
and  rational  beings  of  the  world  fhould  know  fomething  of 
God's  fcheme  and  defign  in  his  works  ;  for  they  doubtlefs  are 
the  beings  that  are  principally  concerned.  The  thing  that  is 
God's  great  defign  in  his  works,  is  doubtlefs  fomething  concern- 
ing his  rcafonable  creatures,  rather  than  brute  beads  and  life- 
lefs  things.  The  revolutions  by  which  God's  great  defign  is 
brought  to  pafs,  are  doubtlefs  revolutions  chiefly  among  them, 
and  which  concern  their  ftatCy  and  not  the  flate  of  things  with- 
out life  or  reafon.  And  therefore  furely  it  is  requifite,  that  they 
fhould  know  fomething  of  it  ;  efpecially  feeing  that  reafon 
teaches,  that  God  has  given  his  rational  creatures  reafon,  and  a 
capacity  of  feeing  God  in  his  works  ;  for  this  end,  that  they 
may  fee  God's  glory  in  them,  and  give  him  the  glory  of  them. 
But,  ^  How  can  they  fee  God's  glory  in  his  works,  if  they  do 


Impr.         WORK    of    R  E  D  E  M  P  T  I  O  1^.  349 

not  know  what  God's  defign  in  them  is,   and  what  he  aims  at 
by  what  he  is  doing  in  the  world  ? 

And  further,  it  is  fit  that  mankind  fliould  be  informed  fomc- 
thing  of  God's  defign  in  tlie  government  of  the  world,  becaufe 
they  are  made  capable  of  a£lively  falling  in  with  that  defign, 
and  promoting  of  it,  and  afting  herein  as  his  friends  and  fub- 
je6ts  ;  it  is  therefore  reafonable  to  fuppofe,  that  God  has  given 
mankind  fomc  revelation  to  inform  them  of  this  :  But  there  is 
nothing  elfe  that  does  it  but  the  Bible.  In  the  Bible  this  is 
done.  Hence  we  may  learn  an  account  of  the  fird  original  of 
things,  and  an  orderly  account  of  the  fcheme  of  God's  works 
from  the  firfl  beginning,  through  thofe  ages  that  arc  beyond  the 
reach  of  all  other  hiftories.  Here  we  are  told  what  God  aims 
at  in  the  whole,  what  is  the  great  end,  how  he  has  contrived 
the  grand  defign  he  drives  at,  and  the  great  things  he  would  ac- 
complifh  by  all.  Here  we  have  a  mod  rational  excellent  ac- 
count of  this  matter,  worthy  of  God,  and  exceedingly  fliewing 
forth  the  glory  of  his  pcrfeftions,  his  majeliy,  his  wifdom,  his 
glorious  holinefs,  and  grace,  and  love,  and  his  exaltation  above 
all,  fhowing  how  he  is  the  firft  and  the  laft. 

Here  we  are  ihown  the  connexion  of  the  various  parts  of 
the  work  of  providence,  and  how  all  harmonifes,  and  is  con- 
nected together  in  a  regular,  beautiful,  and  glorious  frame.  In 
the  Bible,  we  have  an  account  of  the  whole  fcheme  of  provi- 
dence, from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  end  of  it,  either 
in  hillory  or  prophecy,  and  are  told  what  will  become  of  things 
at  laft  ;  how  they  will  be  finifhed  off  by  a  great  day  of  judg- 
ment, and  will  iffue  in  the  fubduing  of  God's  enemies,  and  in 
the  falvation  and  glory  of  his  church,  and  fetting  up  of  the  ev- 
erlafting  kingdom  of  his  Son, 

How  rational,  worthy,  and  excellent  a  revelation  is  this  !  and 
how  excellent  a  book  is  the  Bible,  which  contains  fo  much  be- 
yond all  other  books  in  the  world  ]  and  what  charatlers  are 
here  of  its  being  indeed  a  divine  book  !  a  book  that  the  great 
Jehovah  has  given  to  mankind  for  their  inftru6lion,  without 
which  we  fhouW  be  left  in  miferable  darknefs  and  confufion. 

VI.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  the  glorious  maj- 
eliy and  power  of  God  in  this  affair  of  redemption  :  Efpecially 
is  God  glorious  in  power.  His  glorious  power  appears  in  up- 
holding his  church  for  folong  a  time,  and  carrying  on  this  work  ; 
upholding  it  often  times  when  it  was  but  as  a  little  fpark  of  fire,  or 


350  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y     OF    THE  Period  HI, 

as  fmoking  flax,  in  which  the  fire  was  almoft  gone  out,  and  the 
power  of  earth  and  hell  were  combined  to  dedroy  it.  Yet 
God  has  never  fuffered  them  to  quench  it,  and  finally  will  bring 
forth  judgment  unto  viftory.  God  glorifies  his  fhength  in  his 
church's  weaknefs  ;  in  caufing  his  people,  who  are  like  a  num- 
ber of  little  infants,  finally  to  triumph  over  all  earth  and  hell  ; 
fo  that  they  fhall  tread  on  the  lion  and  adder  ;  the  young  lion 
and  dragon  {hall  they  trample  under  foot.  The  glorious  power 
of  God  appears  in  conquering  his  many  and  mighty  enemies  by 
that  peribn  who  was  once  an  infant  in  a  manger,  and  appeared 
as  a  poor,  weak,  defpifed  man.  He  conquers  them,  and  tri- 
umphs over  them  in  their  own  weapon,  the  crofs. 

The  glorious  majefty  of  God  appears  in  conquering  all  thofe 
mighty  enemies  of  the  church  one  age  after  another  ;  in  con- 
quering Satan,  that  proud  and  ftrong  fpirit,  and  all  his  hellifh 
hofl ;  in  bringing  him  down  under  foot,  long  after  he  had 
vaunted  himfelf  as  god  of  this  world,  and  when  he  did  his  ut- 
mod  to  fupport  himfelf  in  his  kingdom. 

God's  power  glorioufly  appears  in  conquering  Satan  when 
exalted  in  that  ftrongefh  and  mofl  potent  heathen  kingdom  that 
ever  he  had,  the  Roman  empire.  Chrift,  our  Michael,  has  ov- 
ercome him,  and  the  devil  was  cad  out,  and  there  was  found 
no  more  place  for  him  in  heaven  ;  but  he  was  cafl  out  unto  the 
earth,  and  his  angels  were  call  out  with  him.  Again,  his  pow- 
er glorioufly  appears  in  conquering  him  in  that  kingdom  where- 
in his  pride,  and  fubtlety,  and  cruelty,  above  all  appears,  viz. 
the  kingdom  of  Antichrifl.  It  glorioufly  appears  in  conquer- 
ing him  In  that  greatefl;  and  ftrongefl;  combination  and  oppofi- 
tlon  of  the  devil  and  his  adherents  againft:  Chrifl.  and  his  church, 
jufl;  before  the  fall  of  Antichrifl:,  wherein  his  vifible  kingdom 
has  a  fatal  blow  given  it,  on  which  an  univerfal  downfall  of  it 
follows  all  over  the  world. 

The  glorious  power  of  God  appears  in  thus  conquering  the 
devil,  and  bringing  him  under  foot,  time  after  time,  after  long 
time  given  him  to  ftrengthen  himfelf  to  his  utmoff,  as  he  was 
once  overthrovv-n  in  his  heathen  Roman  empire,  after  he  had 
been  making  himfelf  ftrong  in  thofe  parts  of  the  world,  ever 
fince  the  building  of  Babel.  It  appears  alfo  in  overthrowing 
his  kingdom  more  fatally  and  univerfally  all  over  the  world, 
after  he  had  again  another  opportunity  given  him  to  ftrengthen 
himfelf  to  his  utmofl:  for  many  ages,  by  felting  up  thofe  two 

great 


Impr.        WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  35^ 

great  kingdoms  of  Antichrlfl  and  Mahomet,  and  to  eftablifh  his 
interell  in  the  heathen  world.  We  have  feen  hovv^thefe  king- 
doms of  God's  enemies,  that,  before  God  appears,  look  Ihong, 
as  though  it  was  impoflible  to  overthrow  them  ;  yet,  time  after 
time,  when  God  appears,  they  feem  to  melt  away,  as  the  fat  of 
lambs  before  the  fire,  and  are  driven  away  as  the  chaff  before 
the  whirlwind,  or  the  fmoke  out  of  the  chimney, 

Thofe  mighty  kingdoms  of  Antichrift  and  Mahomet,  which 
have  made  fuch  a  figure  for  fo  many  ages  together,  and  have 
trampled  the  world  under  foot,  when  God  comes  to  appear, 
will  vanifh  away  like  a  fhadow,  and  will  as  it  were  difappear  of 
themfelves,  and  come  to  nothing,  as  the  darknefs  in  a  room 
does,  when  the  light  is  brought  in.  ^  What  are  God's  enemies 
in  his  hands  ?  How  is  their  greatefl  ftrength  weaknefs  when 
he  rifes  up  !  and  how  weak  will  they  all  appear  together  at  the 
day  of  judgment !  Thus  we  may  apply  thole  words  in  the  fong 
of  Mofes,  Exod.  xv.  6.  "  Thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  is  become 
glorious  in  power;  Thy  right  hand,  O  Lord,  hath  daflied  in 
pieces  the  enemy."  And  how  great  doth  the  majefly  of  God 
appear  in  overturning  the  world  from  time  to  time,  to  accom- 
plifh  his  defigns,  and  at  lafl  io  caufing  the  earth  and  heavens  to 
ilce  away,  for  the  advancement  of  the  glory  of  his  kingdom  ! 

VII.  From  what  has  been  faid,  we  may  fee  the  glorious  wif- 

dom  of  God.     It  fliows  the  wifdom  of   God  in   creating   the 

world,  in  that  he  has  created  it  for  fuch  an  excellent  ufe,  to  ac- 

complifh  in  it   fo  glorious  a  work.     And  it  fhows  the  wifdom 

of  divine  Providence,  that  he  brings  fuch  great  good  out  of  fuch 

great  evil,  in  making  the   fall  and  ruin  of  mankind,   which  in 

itfelf  is  fo  forrowful  and  deplorable,  an  occafion  of  accomplifh- 

ing  fuch   a  glorious  work   as  this  work  of  redemption,  and  of 

eredling  fuch  a  glorious  building,  whofe  top  fliould  reach    unto 

heaven,  and  of  bringing  his  eled  to  a  flate  of  fuch  unfpeakable 

happinefs.     And  how  glorious  doth  the  wifdom  of  God  appear 

in  that  long  courfe  and  feries  of  great  changes  in  the  world,  in 

bringing  fuch  order  out  of  confufion,  in  fo  fruftrating  the  devil, 

and  fo  wonderfully  turning  all  his  raoft  fubtle  machinations  to 

his  own  glory,  and  the  glory  of  his  Son  Jefus   Chrift !  and   in 

caufing  the  greatefl  works  of  Satan,  thofe  in  which  he  has  moft 

glorified  himfelf,  to  be  wholly  turned  into  occafions  of  fo  much 

the  more  glorious  triumph  of  his  Son   Jefus  Chrift  !   And   how 

wonderful  is  the  wifdom  of  God,  in  bringing  all  fuch  manifold 

and 


352  A    H  1  S  T  O  R  Y    o?  the  Period  111. 

and  various  changes  and  overturnings  in  the  world  to  fuch  a 
glorious  period  at  lafl,  and  in  fo  directing  all  the  wheels  of  prov- 
idence by  his  ikilful  hand,  that  every  one  of  them  confpires,  as 
the  manifold  wheels  of  a  mod  curious  machine,  at  lafh  to  ftrike 
out  fuch  an  excellent  ifTue,  fuch  a  manifeflation  of  the  divine 
glory,  fuch  happinefs  to  his  people,  and  fuch  a  gloiious  and  ev- 
crlafling  kingdom  to  his  Son  ! 

VIII.  From  what  has  been  faid,  wc  may  fee  the  liability  of 
God's  mercy  and  faithfulnefs  to  his  people  ;  how  he  never  for- 
fakes  his  inheritance,  and  remembers  his  covenant  to  theni 
through  all  generations.  Now  wc  may  fee  what  reafon  there 
was  for  the  words  of  the  text,  "  The  moth  (hall  eat  them  up 
like  a  garment,  and  the  worm  fhall  eat  them  like  wool  ;  but  my 
righteoulnefs  fhall  endure  for  ever  and  ever,  and  my  falv-atio» 
from  generation  to  generation."  And  now  we  may  fee  abun- 
dant reafon  for  that  name  of  God  which  he  reveals  to  Mofes, 
Exod.  iii.  14.  "  And  God  faid  unto  Mofes,  /  am  that  lam ;"  i.  e 
I  am  the  fame  that  I  was  when  I  entered  into  covenant  with 
Abraham,  Ifaac,  and  Jacob,  and  ever  fhall  be  the  fame  ;  I  fhall 
keep  covenant  for  ever  ;  I  am  felfsufHcient,  allfufficient,  and 
immutable. 

And  now  we  may  fee  the  truth  of  that,  Pfal.  xxxvi.  5,  6. 
"  Thy  mercy,  O  Lord,  is  in  the  heavens ;  and  thy  faithfulnefs 
reacheth  unto  the  clouds.  Thy  righteoufnefs  is  like  the  great 
mountains  ;  thy  judgments  are  a  great  deep."  And  if  we  con- 
fider  what  has  been  faid,  we  need  not  wonder  that  the  Pfalmift, 
in  the  136th  Pfalm,  fo  often  repeats  this,  For  his  mercy  cndureth 
for  ever  2  as  if  he  were  in  an  ecflafy  at  the  confideration  of  the 
perpetuity  of  God's  mercy  to  his  church,  and  delighted  to  think 
of  it^  and  knew  not  how  but  continually  to  exprefs  it.  Let  us 
with  like  pleafure  and  joy  celebrate  the  everlafting  duration  of 
God's  mercy  and  faithfulnefs  to  his  church  and  people,  and  let 
us  be  comforted  by  it  under  the  prefent  dark  circumftances  of 
the  church  of  God,  and  all  the  uproar  and  confufions  that  arc 
in  the  world,  and  all  the  threatenings  of  the  church's  enemies. 
And  let  us  take  encouragement  earneflly  to  pray  for  thofe  glo- 
rious things  which  God  has  promifed  to  accomplifh  for  his 
church. 

IX.  Hence  we  may  learn  how  happy  a  fociety  the  church  of 
Chrill  is.  For  all  this  great  work  is  for  them.  Chrifl  under- 
took it  for  their  fakes,  and  for  their  fakes  he  carries  it  on,  from 

the 


Impr.         V/  O  R  K    of    REDEMPTION.  353 

from  the  JFall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world  ;  it  is  becaufc  he 
has  loved  them  with  an  everlafting  love.  For  their  fakes  he 
overturns  flatcs  and  kingdoms.  For  their  fakes  he  fhakes  heav- 
en and  earth.  He  gives  men  for  them,  and  people  for  their 
life.  Since  they  have  been  precious  in  God's  fight,  they  have 
been  honourable  ;  and  therefore  he  firft  gives  the  blood  of  his 
own  Son  to  them,  and  then,  for  their  lakes,  gives  the  blood  of 
all  their  enemies,  many  thoufands  and  millions,  all  nations  that 
Hand  in  their  way,  as  a  facrifice  to  their  good. 

For  their  fakes  he  made  the  world,  and  for  their  fakes  he  will 
deflroy  it :  For  their  fakes  he  built  heaven,  and  for  their  fakes 
he  makes  his  angels  miniftering  fpirits.  Therefore  the  Apoftlc 
fays,  as  he  does,  1  Cor.  iii.  21.  &c.  "All  things  are  yours: 
Whether  Paul,  or  Apollos,  or  Cephas,  or  the  world,  or  life,  or 
death,  or  things  prefent,  or  things  to  come  ;  all  are  yours." 
How  blelTed  is  this  people  who  are  redeemed  from  among  men, 
and  are  the  firft  fruits  unto  God,  and  to  the  Lamb  ;  who  have 
God  in  all  ages  for  their  proteftion  and  help  !  Deut.  xxxiii.  29. 
<«  Happy  art  thou,  O  Ifrael  ;  Who  is  like  unto  thee,  O  people 
faved  by  the  Lord,  the  fhield  of  thy  help,  and  who  is  the  {word 
of  thy  excellency  I  and  thine  enemies  fhall  be  found  liars  unto 
thee,  and  thou  flialt  tread  upon  their  high  places." 

Let  who  will  prevail  now,  let  the  enemies  of  the  church  ex- 
alt themfelves  as  much  as  they  will,  thefe  are  the  people  that 
Ihall  finally  prevail.  The  laft  kingdom  fhall  finally  be  theirs  ;  the 
kingdom  fhall  finally  be  given  into  their  hands,  and  fhall  not  be 
left  to  other  people.  We  have  feen  what  a  blelfed  iffue  things 
fhall  finally  be  brought  to  as  to  them,  and  what  glory  they  fhall 
arrive  at,  and  remain  in  pofTefTion  of,  for  ever  and  ever,  after 
all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  are  come  to  an  end,  and  the  earth 
is  removed,  and  mountains  are  carried  into  the  depth  of  the  fea, 
or  where  the  fea  was,  and  this  lower  earth  fhall  all  be  dif- 
folved.  O  happy  people,  and  blelfed  fociety !  Well  may  they 
fpend  an  eternity  in  praifes  and  hallelujahs  to  him  who  hath 
loved  them  from  eternity,  and  will  love  them  to  eternity. 

X.  And,  laftly,  hence  all  wicked  men,  all  that  are  in  aChrifl- 
lefs  condition,  may  fee  their  exceeding  mifery.  You  that  arc 
fuch,  whoever  you  are,  you  are  thofe  who  fhall  have  no  part  or 
lot  in  this  matter.  You  are  never  the  better  for  any  of  thofc 
things  of  which  you  have  heard  :  Yea,  your  guilt  is  but  fo  much 
the  greater,  and  the  mifery  you  are  cxpofed  to  fo  much  the 
X  X  ,  more 


354  A    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y    OP    the  •  Period  IIL 

more  dreadful.  Vou  are  feme  of  that  fort,  again  ft  whom  God, 
in  the  progrefs  of  the  work,  exercifes  fb  much  manifeft  wrath  ; 
fome  of  thofe  enemies  who  are  liable  to  be  made  Chrift's  foot- 
fto®l,  and  to  be  ruled  with  a  rod  of  iron,  and  to  be  dafhed  in 
pieces.  You  are  fome  of  the  feed  of  the  ferpent,  to  bruife  the 
head  of  which  is  one  great  defign  of  all  this  work.  Whatever 
glorious  things  God  accomplilhes  for  his  church,  if  you  con- 
tinue in  the  ftate  you  are  now  in,  they  will  not  be  glorious  to 
you.  The  moft  glorious  times  of  the  church  are  always  the 
moft  difmal  times  to  the  wicked  and  impenitent.      This  we  are 

taught  in  If.  Ixvi.  14. And  fo  we  find,   wherever    glorious 

things  are  foretold  concerning  the  church,  there  terrible  things 
are  foretold  concerning  the  wicked,  its  enemies.  And  fo  it  ever 
has  been  in  fatl  ;  in  all  remarkable  deliverances  wrought  for 
the  church,  there  has  been  alfo  a  remarkable  execution  of  wrath 
on  its  enemies.  So  it  was  when  God  delivered  the  children  of 
Ifrael  out  of  Egypt ;  at  the  fame  time  he  remarkably  poured  out 
his  wrath  on  Pharaoh  and  the  Egyptians.  So  when  he  brought 
them  into  Canaan  by  Jofhua,  and  gave  them  that  good  land,  he 
remarkably  executed  wrath  upon  the  Canaanites,  So  when 
they  were  delivered  out  of  their  Babylonifli  captivity,  fignal 
vengeance  was  inflifled  on  the  Babylonians.  So  when  the 
Gentiles  were  called,  and  the  eleft  of  God  were  faved  by  the 
preaching  of  the  apoftles,  Jerufalem  and  the  perfecuting  Jews 
were  deftroyed  in  a  moft  awful  manner.  I  might  obferve  the 
fame  concerning  the  glory  accompliflied  to  the  church  in  the 
<lays  of  Conftantine,  at  the  overthrow  of  Satan's  vifible  king- 
dom in  the  downfall  of  Antichrift,  and  at  the  day  of  judgment. 
In  all  thefe  inftances,  and  efpecially  in  the  laft,  there  have  been, 
or  will  be,  exhibited  moft  awful  tokens  of  the  divine  wrath 
againft  the  wicked.     And  to  this  clafs  of  men  you  belong. 

You  are  indeed  fome  of  that  fort  that  God  will  make  ufe  of 
in  this  affair  ;  but  it  will  be  for  thp  glory  of  his  juftice,  and  not 
of  his  mercy.  You  are  fome  of  thofe  enemies  of  God  who  are 
^eferved  for  the  triumph  of  Chrift's  glorious  power  in  over- 
coming and  punilhing  them.  You  are  fome  of  that  fort  that 
Ihall  be  confumed  with  this  accurfed  world  after  the  day  of 
judgment,  when  Chrift  and  his  church  fliall  triumphantly  and 
glorioufly  afcend  to  heaven. 

Therefore  let  all  that  are  in  a  Chriftlefs  condition  amongft  us 
iefioufly  conhder  thefe  things,  and  not  be  like  the  foolifh  peo- 


Impr.         WORK    of    REDEMPTION.  355 

pie  of  the  old  world,  who  would  not  take  warning,  when  Noah 
told  them,  that  the  I,.ord  was  about  to  bring  a  flood  of  waters 
upon  the  earth  ;  or  like  the  people  of  Sodom,  who  would  not 
regard,  when  Lot  told  them,  that  God  would  deihoy  that  city, 
and  would  not  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  fo  were  con- 
fumed  in  that  terrible  deflruftion. 

And  now  I  would  conclude  my  whole  difcourfe  on  this  fub- 
jeft,  in  words  like  thofe  in  the  laft  of  the  Revelation  :  *'  Thefc 
fayings  are  faithful  and  true,  and  blelTed  is  he  thatkeepeth  thefc 
fayings.  Behold,  Chrifl  cometh  quickly,  and  his  reward  is  with 
him,  to  render  to  every  man  according  as  his  work  fhall  be. 
And  he  that  is  unjuft,  fhall  be  unjufl:  ftill ;  and  he  that  is  filthy, 
Jhall  be  filthy  ftill  ;  and  he  that  is  holy,  fliall  be  holy  ftill. 
Blefled  are  they  that  do  his  commandments,  that  they  may  have 
right  to  the  tree  of  life,  and  may  enter  in  through  the  gates  into 
the  city  :  For  without  are  dogs,  and  forcerers,  and  whoremon- 
gers, and  murderers,  and  idolaters,  and  whofoever  loveth  and 
ynaketh  a  lie.  He  that  teftifieth  thefe  things,  faith,  Surely  J 
come  (juickly.     Amen  ;  even  fo  come,  Lord  Jefus,'* 


§         FINIS.        g 


^ii. 


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